KELIN collaborates with Elder Champions to test norms on women’s land rights

Facilitator elder Felix Okal taking participants through a focus group discussion

On 20 – 23 November 2017, KELIN in collaboration with two elder champions, Mr. Kasuku Kalolo and Felix Okal, conducted a three day pre-testing exercise for the curriculum titled “Securing Your Family’s Future: Transforming Peer Norms about Women’s Land Rights. A Course for Men (SYFF Curriculum). The three day exercise brought together 12 male elders from 6 constituencies in Kisumu and Homa Bay counties chosen on their knowledge and skills in addressing issues surrounding women’s rights to land and property ownership in context of the traditional and cultural practices.

With support from an anonymous donor, three non-governmental organizations in East Africa, namely KELIN, Pastoral Women’s Council PWC and Uganda Community Based Association for Child Welfare UCOBAC) have been working in partnership to explore how inequitable social norms on women’s land rights can be changed. The partnership identified key social norms that discourage women’s land rights, reframed these norms, and developed a theory of change logic model that will be used to inform interventions.

During the three day forum, key topics covered included; Introduction to the legal framework on land, importance of joint decision making in homesteads, what men can do to ensure equitable land rights and how men can be a force for change.

Participants affirmed that the curriculum resonates with their values and could be replicated among their constituencies and peers.

From 2018, KELIN plans to roll out the final curriculum to ensure that social norms that violate women’s land and property rights are demystified. Hopefully, this will increase women’s access to, use, ownership and involvement in decision-making about land in Kenya.

To contribute to the discussions follow KELIN on our social media platform:

Twitter: @KELINkenya

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya

 

For more information contact:

Onyango O. Ondeng | Program Manager, Women Land and Property Rights

Milimani area |Opposite Jalaram Academy

Off Nairobi Rd @ Kisumu Pentecostal Church

P.O Box 7708| 40100 Kisumu – Kenya

Tel: +254-57-2532664: Cell- [Office]: +254-708-342197

E-mail:ondeng@kelinkenya.org