Securing Land Tenure Through Participatory Upgrading Processes: Women’s Experiences in Freedom Square, Gobabis, Namibia

Tanzila Ahmed (), Astrid Ley, Mohamed Salheen and Jennilee Kohima
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Tanzila Ahmed: University of Stuttgart, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, MSc Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Astrid Ley: University of Stuttgart, Institute of Urban Planning and Design, 70174 Stuttgart, Germany
Mohamed Salheen: Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt
Jennilee Kohima: Department of Architecture, Planning and Construction, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek 9000, Namibia

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 2, 1-23

Abstract: In Namibia, informal settlements are usually upgraded by a participatory process aimed at providing inhabitants with land tenure security through the Flexible Land Tenure Act (FLTA), followed by the provision of basic services. The pilot FLTA implementation case is the upgrading of the Freedom Square settlement in Gobabis, which was a woman-led process. This research analyzes both the experiences of the women participating during the process as well as the immediate and long-term perceived impacts on their social and economic conditions. The empirical data were collected through interviews and a focus group discussion with experts and key participants in the development process. The findings highlight socio–economic challenges faced by the participating women, including insufficient support from family and limited economic opportunities. Throughout the process, stakeholders shifted their aims. This shift influenced the involvement of women, changing their roles from active participants to service recipients. While the main goals of receiving land tenure and service provision were partially fulfilled, the long-term impact of the process on women is varied from how it was initially envisioned. This was largely due to the absence of a comprehensive plan to improve their livelihoods. The results show that for participatory land tenure processes to become inclusive, a stronger gender-mainstreaming agenda becomes necessary. It also emphasizes holistic development planning as a key factor for long-term success.

Keywords: land management; collaborative planning; participatory development; urban and land planning; informal settlement upgrading; SDG localization; gender-sensitive process; participatory land tenure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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