Claiming and Realizing Right to Land: Can Development Organizations Address the Gender Disparities in Bangladesh? FERDOUS JAHAN, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh SHARIF WAHAB (Presenter), Ohio University, USA

Outline of the Presentation Introduction of the Research Women’s (property) right in the context of Bangladesh BRAC’s Property Rights Initiative (PRI) project Research Methodology Findings Key Takeaways

Introduction Less than 20% of the world's landholders are women (Commission on the Status of the Women, 2012). Rights are claims that legally & socially recognized and enforceable by an external legitimized authority. Women’s rights to own land is one of the most critical form of property rights in male dominant context of Bangladesh

Women’s Land Rights: Bangladesh Context Constitutionally men & women have equal rights However, there is no uniform civil law for family law matters (including inheritance and division of property) Such matters are determined by personal laws applicable to the religion of the individual (Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or tribal (Rural Development Institute, 2009) Historically Women’s right has been a political issue NGO’s rights based approach has created a space for advocating women’s rights

BRAC’s Project on Women’s Land Rights Property Rights Initiative (PRI) was launched in June 2013. The program aims at developing linkages between laws and rights by helping poor communities identify their entitlement to property rights supporting them in accessing their claims The project was implemented in 491 Unions of 54 Upazilas under six Northwest districts

PRI’s Activities Awareness Raising & Legal support Skill Development Yard meeting, Human Rights and Legal Education Classes, Formation of Odhikar Bastabayan Committee Skill Development Male and Female Professional surveyors/Land Entrepreneurs (LE)

Research Question How effective development organization's targeted intervention for women in claiming and realizing their right to land in Bangladesh? Sub-questions: To what extent human rights based development programs can produce benefits for poor and vulnerable women? How relevant, effective, sustainable and participatory are such intervention components? What lessons can be drawn from such development interventions that can lead to further gender sensitive policies and programs by the government and development organizations?

Methodology Mixed Method Quantitative survey included 1200 female respondents selected Urban & rural dynamics were considered while sampling Qualitative data was collected through 24 r Key Informant Interviews (KII), 10 Focus Group Discussions (FGD), and 40 case studies

Evaluation of service Availability: Utilization Cost 85%of PRI service receivers reported that BRAC male LEs are available in their area. In contrast, only 1.6 percent of the same group were aware of the availability of female BRAC LEs. Utilization 244 households in the study area used BRAC male LEs Cost Of these 244 households, 196 households incurred costs for the service and spent $ 5.91 on average. The average cost of service for Government and Non-government surveyors were $ 8.01 & $ 7.16

Role of PRI in enhancing knowledge about Property Rights The Treatment group performed better compared to control group in answering basic property rights questions The program’s impact is less straightforward in terms of questions that require advanced level awareness of inheritance laws.

Barriers for Claiming & Realizing Property Rights Lack of interest to go beyond family interest Forgoing property is a strategy for women Lack of understanding & information asymmetry Cost of the process

Impacts of PRI Project The yard meeting are increasing the awareness of women to ask about their share Land Entrepreneurs (LEs) are playing crucial role beyond their responsibilities The informed claims from women creating pressure on the male family members Institutional barriers and cultural orientation are hindering the further advancement

Conclusion In terms of service provision, PRI has proven to be effective The society is not ready yet to accept women on the supply side (as Land Entrepreneurs) PRI has been developed the human resource, now it is time to move forward to develop institutional capital Between the practical and strategic gender needs, the program was able to address the first.

Questions? Sharif Wahab Email: sa885514@ohio.edu