Land reform has been a contentious issue in Sierra Leone's East African context since independence. The country has experienced significant historical and contemporary socio-economic challenges that have disproportionately affected rural communities, particularly women and children. The research employs qualitative methods including semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and document analysis. Data was collected from 50 households across three selected villages representing varying socio-economic backgrounds. Findings indicate that land reform has positively influenced food security in the region, with a significant increase (64%) of households reporting improved access to staple crops post-reform. Land reform appears to have facilitated greater economic empowerment among rural populations, particularly women and children who previously lacked formal ownership rights over agricultural lands. However, challenges persist related to tenure security and market integration. Policy recommendations include strengthening legal frameworks for land tenure systems, enhancing access to credit facilities, and promoting inclusive agricultural extension services tailored to local contexts.
Edwards et al. (Thu,) studied this question.
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