Invisible Dispossessions: Gendered Impacts of Urban Land-Use Change on Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The background of this study is the recognition that as cities in sub-Saharan Africa continue to grow at a rapid rate, the urban development of peri-urban agricultural zones has important implications for the food system and livelihoods. Such impacts are thoroughly gendered in nature but the relationship between Land-use Change, Food Security, and Gender Inequality is an under researched domain. The research aimed to examine the effects of urban land use change and the influence of gender, specifically in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the relationship between spatial change and women's accessibility to land, food provisioning, as well as food system agency. The method used was a systematic review, which led to a thorough search of the peer-reviewed and grey literature using Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and IFPRI and FAO institutional repositories, adhering to the PRISMA guidelines for systematic review. The inclusion criteria contained studies published between the years 2000 and 2024 that examined six themes Tenure Security, Land Governance, Spatial Exclusion, Nutrition Inequality, Gender/Public Norms, and Economic Empowerment in Sub-Saharan Africa contexts. Data was synthesized thematically utilizing a two-layered theoretical perspective. The results revealed a more profound understanding achieved through the creation of a combined theoretical-conceptual framework on invisible dispossessions, in addressing the land-related problems that fall heavily on the female population because of land-use change due to insecure tenure status, socio-spatial marginalization, and exclusion from urban planning processes. In addition, loss of access to arable land, informal food markets, and reduced household nutrition were disclosed. Urban land use planning practices in sub-Saharan Africa perpetuate gender disparities related to food systems. Closing the gaps demand a gender-sensitive approach to spatial planning and tenure security reforms and the integration of food provisioning systems with urban development principles. The policies include (1) strengthening legal tenure protections, (2) institutionalize gender in urban planning, and (3) empowering women food entrepreneurs.