WOMEN TO KILIMANJARO: STAND UP FOR WOMEN’S LAND RIGHTS
A Decade of Climbing and Claiming Rights Kilimanjaro Initiative Women’s Land Rights Campaign
The Kilimanjaro Initiative is a Pan-African rural women’s land rights campaign focused on advancing women’s land rights in Africa. Led by rural women and supported by civil society organizations, farmers’ organizations, researchers, development partners, and other allies, the campaign works to promote women’s rights to access, use, control, own, and inherit land and natural resources. Through collective action, advocacy, and movement-building, the Initiative seeks to strengthen rural women’s voices, influence policies and practices, and hold governments and other stakeholders accountable for commitments to gender equality, land justice, and women’s economic empowerment.
The movement gained continental recognition in 2016 when women from 22 African countries undertook a historic mobilization that culminated in a symbolic ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. This powerful act of solidarity and determination led to the proclamation of the Kilimanjaro Charter of Principles and Demands, a landmark framework that continues to guide advocacy for women’s land rights across Africa.
Over the past decade, the Initiative has contributed to raising awareness, strengthening rural women’s leadership, influencing policy processes, and advancing accountability for commitments on women’s land rights. Yet significant challenges remain. Millions of women continue to face barriers to land ownership and control, while emerging threats such as climate change, land degradation, conflict, large-scale land acquisitions, food insecurity, and growing economic inequalities are placing increasing pressure on rural livelihoods.
Kilimanjaro Women’s Assembly
The 10th Anniversary of the Kilimanjaro Initiative offers a unique opportunity to celebrate achievements, reflect on lessons learned, and shape a renewed agenda for the future. The anniversary gathering will bring together rural women leaders, farmers, policymakers, academics, civil society organizations, development partners, and private sector actors from across Africa and beyond to exchange experiences, showcase progress, strengthen partnerships, and develop collective strategies for advancing women’s economic justice and secure land rights.
The Kilimanjaro Women's Assembly will take place in Arusha, Tanzania, at MS-TCDC from 14th to 16th October 2026.
The Assembly will convene participants from across Africa and beyond to contribute to shaping the future of women’s land rights, sustainable development, and inclusive economic transformation.
Register to Attend
If you are interested in participating in the Kilimanjaro Women’s Assembly, please complete this registration form.
We warmly invite you to be part of this important milestone and contribute to the next decade of action for women’s land rights and economic justice in Africa.
EQUALS brings you the latest data and insights about global inequality through our podcast, blog, inequality bulletin, and exclusive investigations.