BlogField Focus Blog

Rituals of marriage create untold suffering for millions of widows in India

The ideal of a married woman decorated with sindoor, sakha, and bichiya is romanticized through legend and folklore; steeped in this culture, women themselves see value in these rituals. Millions of women in India do not even imagine that these discriminatory and patriarchal rituals are not supernaturally ordained and blind them to the reality that the revered status given to suhagins causes untold suffering to any woman (widow) who does not fit the ideal.

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November 22, 2020

Could youth land rights hold the key to transforming agriculture and stimulating economic development in Africa?

From Liberia to Zimbabwe and Benin to Tanzania, advocates, legal experts and members of civil society are dismantling barriers that young women and men face in accessing land, helping to build a new generation of farmers across the continent. To learn more about this important work, join co-hosts Landesa and Yilaa Friday, Nov. 20, from 1-3pm West African Time (7 – 9 am EST) for an expert discussion.

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November 17, 2020

Why Securing Youth Land Rights Matter for Agriculture-Led Growth in Africa

Access to land is both a critical component and a fundamental barrier to productive youth engagement in agriculture. If properly harnessed, Africa’s nearly 420 million youth—including more than 200 million who reside in rural areas—will be the continent’s greatest asset and its engine to grow agricultural productivity and food security while reducing poverty.

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November 05, 2020

The name game: How women get erased in rural India

On International Day of Rural Women, Shipra Deo shares stories from her work in rural India about the power of names — how they contribute to a person’s identity, affect the right to vote, and even uphold patriarchy.

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October 15, 2020

Want to transform agriculture? Give youth access to land

More than 65 per cent of youths (defined as ages 15-34) in Tanzania find employment in agriculture, but they lack the proper foundations and equal opportunities to reach their full potential. They face immense challenges when it comes to accessing land, as they are effectively precluded from participating in sustainable agricultural practices and using technology to improve production.

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September 23, 2020