The Kilimanjaro Initiative Campaign was launched in 2016 through the Rural Women Assembly (RWA) and the Rural Women Farmers Forum (RWFF), with support from Oxfam International and other partners. It arose from the collective determination of African rural women to claim equal rights to land and natural resources, addressing long-standing gender inequalities in ownership and governance.

The initiative aimed to elevate women’s land rights from local struggles to continental policy dialogues. Its long-term vision was to transform structural marginalization into collective empowerment, fostering political will, unity among rural women, and stronger institutional frameworks for gender equality in land governance.

Nearly a decade later, the Kilimanjaro Initiative Campaign remains a continental milestone in advancing women’s land and resource rights. It has reshaped policy narratives, empowered women’s movements, and influenced institutional reforms across Africa. While challenges in coordination, data, and cultural barriers persist, the Initiative has proven that collective women’s advocacy can drive systemic transformation. Its legacy lies not only in policy influence but also in inspiring a new generation of rural women activists determined to claim their rightful place in Africa’s development agenda. The Initiative thus stands as a model for future gender-responsive land governance campaigns, exemplifying how solidarity, data, and policy engagement can together turn women’s demands into enduring continental change.