“Rural women – the backbone of resilience and the voice of change”
Across Southern Africa’s rural landscapes, women are the backbone of survival and the heartbeat of resilience. Yet, their labour, leadership, and lived realities often remain invisible – overshadowed by patriarchy, land inequality, and socio-economic exclusion.
During the Gender Links Linking and Learning Summit held in Benoni, Johannesburg, in March 2025, grantees reflected on these intersecting challenges under the land rights theme.
Pumla Vilakazi, from the SASOPSBIZ Foundation in KwaZulu-Natal, a Women’s Voice and Leadership South Africa grantee, shared powerful insights on the challenges faced by rural women in the agricultural space.
“Women in rural communities feed families, run small farms, and sustain local markets — yet their contribution is undervalued. Many are denied access to financial support, land ownership, and agricultural resources. Still, they rise every day to ensure food security for their families and communities.”
Adding to the conversation, Tinotenda Matenda from ROOTS Africa, Zimbabwe, a Voice and Choice grantee, emphasized the need for land and inheritance justice:
“In many traditional systems, women cannot inherit land or property. Ownership is tied to marriage and lineage through men. This strips women of economic power and independence — perpetuating inequality across generations.”
These reflections echo the everyday reality of millions of women whose unpaid labour and caregiving sustain communities, yet whose rights remain denied. Despite these barriers, rural women continue to lead — shaping local economies, influencing change, and driving feminist transformation from the ground up.
As we celebrate the International Day of Rural Women, let us recognise their strength not as charity, but as a right. Their empowerment is not just a rural issue – it is a global imperative for justice, equity, and sustainable development.
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For more information contact grants2@genderlinks.org.za