“Bora” and Beyond: Respecting Money but not Women’s Land Access in
Rural Sierra Leone.
Abstract
In the North-west of Sierra Leone, customary land access hinges on
“Bora” – a system tied to respect and social obligations, not formal
ownership. While “Bora” plays a crucial role in rural women’s
livelihoods, their land rights remain precarious. This study examines
how the emergence of “Respect Money” – a cash payment replacing
traditional obligations – challenges and reinforces gendered
inequalities in land access. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative
methods, the research investigates the shifting dynamics, how “Respect
Money” alters traditional power structures and customary gender roles
related to land. Livelihood impacts on the consequences of commodified
land access for women’s agricultural practices, income, and food
security. Social implications on the potential erosion of communal
values and increased risk of land dispossession for women under the
“Respect Money” system. Empowerment or exploitation? whether “Respect
Money” presents an opportunity for women’s agency or contributes to
their further marginalization within land governance. The case study
design employ both qualitative and quantitative data analysis that
reveals how the monetization of customary land access, while offering
some flexibility, can exacerbate existing gender inequalities. Key
informant interviews from women’s group, civil society organizations,
land advocates, traditional leaders couple with Focus group discussion
with communities and Biographic survey of various women to understand
lived experiences from those that are constraint to land access due to
‘’Bora” compare to those from landowning families that benefit more
from land access. The result of the study sheds light on the complex
interplay between cash, tradition, and gender in shaping land rights.The
need for inclusive land governance frameworks that recognize and protect
women’s customary rights alongside formal structures. The study
highlight the need for alternative strategies for securing women’s
livelihoods and ensuring equitable access to land in
resource-constrained settings. This study contributes to ongoing debates
about gender, land rights, and the evolving nature of customary
practices in the face of economic and social transformations. It
recommends that policymakers and development practitioners to consider
the nuances of “Bora” beyond the lens of mere monetization and
advocate for solutions that truly empower rural women in land ownership
and management.