Women and Inheritance in Sub‐Saharan Africa: What Can Change?

This article analyses how inheritance is being addressed to enhance socio‐economic equity and opportunities in five sub‐Saharan African countries: Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda and Uganda. Based on interviews with governmental and non‐governmental actors, as well as policy analysis and reviews of the literature, it considers how inheritance is understood as a public policy issue, and focuses attention on three areas that offer opportunities for safeguarding women's inheritance: marriage; customary land governance; and local arbitration. Initiatives to change policies and practices related to these areas are discussed, together with the lessons that can be learned.