Bridging the Gender Gap: Tackling Gender Disparities in Myanmar’s Land Governance

A key focus of MRLG Phase 3, is to improve gender equity in land governance in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. In Phase 2, MRLG developed a blended learning training programme implemented in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and regionally, adapting the FAO e-learning course ‘Governing Land for Women and Men’ to better reflect the MRLG and regional contexts. To further this work in Phase 3, in August this year, MRLG successfully conducted the ‘Gender and Land Knowledge Exchange Training Programme’ in Myanmar, addressing gender and land issues and providing tools to local partners to promote gender equity.

The training was conducted over three days, with 20 participants from the Myanmar Alliance on Customary Land Tenure and sub-partners representing ten different ethnic groups and 18 different organisations across Myanmar. The programme was retrofitted to issues specific to Myanmar, such as unpacking gender while navigating political changes and improving knowledge on the nexus between gender and land governance. 

Participants covered four core modules, including an introduction to gender concepts in land governance, gender, and customary land tenure, gender equitable participation in local land governance, and policy-making and finishing the training with an introduction to gender mainstreaming and development of gender action plans (GAPs). 

As a result, participants expressed keen interest in continuing to engage with gender issues, were able to identify and design relevant interventions to improve gender-equitable land governance in their specific context, and voiced interest in further developing organisational and personal Gender Action Plans. Going forward, the Alliance will seek to incorporate gender proactively for future activities, with particular attention to sustainable and transformative change. 

The enthusiasm to continue engaging on these issues in Myanmar is encouraging and underscores the importance of addressing the complexity of gender equity for organisations and individuals working in land governance in the country. By fostering a gender-sensitive approach to land policies and practices, MRLG continues to work towards land governance that is inclusive, improves local livelihoods, and ensures both women and men benefit from fair access to land.

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