Even in the World’s Poorest Country, Property Rights and Economic Freedom Can Lift Women and Entrepreneurs Out of Poverty

In Burundi, the face of farm life is female. However, although women make up 70% of the agricultural workforce, they have been denied their earned income, their inheritance rights, and the ownership of land they have worked on all their lives. This leaves them financially dependent on their husbands and economically vulnerable when their spouse dies. This lack of economic freedom has heavily contributed to the poverty of a country where 87% of the population lives on less than $1.90 a day.

Centre for Development and Enterprises (CDE) Great Lakes, a free-market think tank supported by Atlas Network, launched an ambitious initiative to reform the country’s land law by eliminating bureaucratic barriers and financial hurdles that prevent women from securing property rights. Their project’s purpose was to reform the land law in Burundi through the simplification of land registration fees and paperwork. At the heart of this strategy was a comprehensive research study, which not only highlighted the economic benefits of simplifying land registration but also provided targeted policy recommendations for lawmakers.

Over the past several years, CDE Great Lakes’ “Why Women” initiative has focused on the glaring human rights disparities women in Burundi encounter, most especially in terms of economic freedom and land ownership. The goal of this initiative is to influence the reform of the land law “Law No. 1/05 of February 20, 2020 setting registration fees Land in Burundi” in order to reduce the time, documents, and costs of registering land ownership and having a property title to guarantee the property rights of women.

Research alone wasn’t enough; CDE Great Lakes understood that real change required public engagement. They took their findings beyond government offices and into local communities, launching an ambitious media campaign to educate citizens and mobilize public opinion in favor of reforming the law.

Key Policy Wins

CDE Great Lakes’ work contributed to policy wins for land ownership in two areas:

• The passage of Law No. 1/05, which completely repealed a 3% land transfer fee, a major milestone that makes it easier for women to legally claim property. This has already led to a surge in land certificate applications.

• Red tape reductions that slash the number of required documents to register land from 11 to just three, drastically cutting through red tape and making the process more accessible.

Through 21 video interviews and 11 storytelling videos, CDE Great Lakes captured the experiences of women who, for the first time, are holding land titles in their own names, a right that was once out of reach. The media campaign has reached hundreds of thousands of people, ensuring that every woman in Burundi knows about these changes and how to claim her rights.

The media campaign alone reached over 230,000 people, with 117,000 tuning in to CDE Great Lakes videos and their TeleWomen sessions, where women shared their struggles and victories in securing land ownership. Their research findings were presented to 37 national elected officials, 101 media professionals, and 17 government agencies.

These victories mark a shift toward greater economic freedom and a huge step towards equality before the law. CDE Great Lakes has successfully broken down systematic barriers helping empower women to take control of their futures by giving them security and opportunity. Owning land gives them the ability to invest in their futures with financial independence and grow wealth for their families.

But the road ahead is not without challenges. Bureaucratic delays still exist in some regions, and cultural resistance persists in certain communities. CDE Great Lakes continues to push forward, ensuring that these reforms are fully implemented and that women across Burundi can exercise their property rights without discrimination.

Atlas Network is proud to support pro-freedom organizations that champion property rights throughout the world. CDE Great Lakes began as a small organization, receiving one of Atlas Network’s modest Think Tank Startup Grants. Since that time, their team has established itself as one of the highest performing free-market think tanks in Sub-Saharan Africa, with their policy achievements being nominated three times for the prestigious Templeton Freedom Award.

“We are very grateful for the invaluable training and encouragement from Atlas Network that has strengthened our effort to champion freedom for all Burundians,” said Aimable Manirakiza, founder of CDE Great Lakes.

How You Can Help

The struggle to advance liberty in Burundi is a long way from over, and the support of the global community has a crucial role to play.

• Donate to Atlas Network to support pro-freedom organizations in Burundi and throughout Africa. Your contribution helps empower local champions to advance economic freedom and equality in their countries.

• Attend Atlas Network events, such as Africa Liberty Forum, to honor the region’s most outstanding freedom champions and learn more directly from impactful organizations such as Burundi’s Centre For Development and Enterprises Great Lakes.

• Get your free digital subscription to Atlas Network’s Freedom’s Champion magazine to stay informed and inspired about the latest updates from the freedom movement in Africa and around the world.

CDE Great Lakes is a testament to the power of perseverance in the fight for freedom and equality. With Atlas Network’s support, organizations like CDE Great Lakes are proving that when people come together to defend economic liberty and individual rights, they can create a lasting impact that transforms lives and strengthens communities.