Gendered impacts of large-scale land acquisitions in Western Ethiopia

TY - RPRT

T1 - Gendered impacts of large-scale land acquisitions in Western Ethiopia

AU - Hajjar, Reem

AU - Rutt, Rebecca Leigh

AU - Mulu, Etenesh

AU - Ayana, Alemayehu

AU - Liao, Chuan

AU - Agrawal, Arun

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - This study presents the results of a comparative assessment of the effects of four cases of land transactions in western Ethiopia in the states of Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz. The study contributes to the larger body of research on large-scale land transactions. It does so through a particular focus on how these transactions are affecting women and women’s livelihoods in comparison to those of men. We find little to no consultation with local residents prior to the occurrence of transactions, whether the source of investment was domestic orforeign. We identify four consistent outcomes across the studied cases: (1) They reduced available land and parcel sizes for agricultural households; (2) They reduced available grazing area, livestock holdings, milk consumption/sale, and availability of other livestock products; (3) They prompted outmigration and increased labor requirements from women who came to manage both their normal domestic chores but also had to take address new tasks outside the home; (4) Finally, they reduced available forest area and forest products such as firewood and non-timber goods, again increasing the labor burden of women. Preliminary evidence of changes in nutrition and diets point to an important avenue for future research.

AB - This study presents the results of a comparative assessment of the effects of four cases of land transactions in western Ethiopia in the states of Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz. The study contributes to the larger body of research on large-scale land transactions. It does so through a particular focus on how these transactions are affecting women and women’s livelihoods in comparison to those of men. We find little to no consultation with local residents prior to the occurrence of transactions, whether the source of investment was domestic orforeign. We identify four consistent outcomes across the studied cases: (1) They reduced available land and parcel sizes for agricultural households; (2) They reduced available grazing area, livestock holdings, milk consumption/sale, and availability of other livestock products; (3) They prompted outmigration and increased labor requirements from women who came to manage both their normal domestic chores but also had to take address new tasks outside the home; (4) Finally, they reduced available forest area and forest products such as firewood and non-timber goods, again increasing the labor burden of women. Preliminary evidence of changes in nutrition and diets point to an important avenue for future research.

M3 - Report

BT - Gendered impacts of large-scale land acquisitions in Western Ethiopia

PB - Rights and Resources Initiative

CY - Washington, D.C.

ER -