How is Tree Aid helping women’s rights in African drylands?

The Sahel region faces some of the hottest conditions on earth, with temperatures rising at twice the global average. African dryland communities feel this impact more than any other continent globally, despite contributing to it the least. And in regions where Tree Aid works, it’s women who face the dual burdens of gender inequality and a rapidly changing climate.?

To mark this year’s UNCCD Desertification and Drought Day’s theme ‘Her Land. Her Rights,’ we’re shining a light on Tree Aid’s work supporting women on the frontlines of global heating, exploring the ways we work to put land access into the hands of vulnerable communities and helping to restore the environment.

Women’s rights and access to land???

n many areas across the Sahel, gender inequality is embodied in laws and traditions that prevent women’s access to land. This is a barrier to them earning an income from agriculture – the most critical economic resource for rural communities. Without this, growing enough food to eat or sell can be extremely challenging. Displacement is also increasing, as women and girls are forced to travel far from home in search of employment.??

Trees provide a solution. How? Because growing trees can offer food security, a way to make an income and more fertile land for farming. That’s why Tree Aid works holistically with communities to help make sure that women are provided equal access to land. To do this, our projects focus on advocating for land rights, and training women in key skills like natural resource management, agroforestry, enterprise development, and growing cooperatives.?

Putting communities first

At Tree Aid, we recognise that women are pioneers in tackling the interlinked challenges of poverty, climate change and biodiversity loss. Our projects are led by the communities we work with, ensuring the benefits reach the people who need them most. Alongside a positive environmental impact, trees provide nutritious food that can be eaten or sold at local markets.??

For many of the women we work with, a crucial factor to success is gaining ownership and control over their crops. Tree Aid’s Forest Governance objective aims to address this, challenging gender roles by campaigning for forests to be managed by the women who depend on them.??

Elizabeth’s story?

Elizabeth from Ghana was 21 when she joined a Tree Aid project. She was pregnant with her first child and told us about the issues she and her community faced:?

"The land had lost its fertility and, because of this, any time we planted we were unable to get enough yield from our farms."?

Since joining, Elizabeth developed Assisted Natural Regeneration skills (ANR) – a method used to graft and protect saplings, ensuring they grow into trees rather than remain in a ‘shrub’ form.?

"It has reduced my poverty because I am part of the Village Saving and Loans Association. I take loans from the group to support my farming activities.?

And I have gained knowledge - training on the importance of trees, why we should practice assisted natural regeneration and why we should plant trees."?

Across our projects, putting control into the hands of women like ELizabeth has helped our participants transform lives and land. But there is still more work to be done.??

Businesses supporting women?

Many of these projects are only possible because of the incredible support from our corporate partners in the UK.??

Your business could be a part of this epic change and continue to help women gain financial independence, food security and access to land.??

By joining Tree Aid as a corporate partner, you can contribute to the Great Green Wall movement – an ambitious, African-led climate solution that aims to grow an 8,000km band of trees across the width of Africa. Over the next 5 years, Tree Aid aims to grow 12 million trees and restore 220,000 hectares of degraded land as part of the initiative.??

All our partnerships are bespoke and tailored to meet your charitable objectives. You will receive use of Tree Aid’s logo and a dedicated account manager will send you updates and images from our projects which you can share with your customers to demonstrate the impact of the charity partnership.?

Interested in finding out more? Get in touch by emailing: [email protected]