Rural Development Institute (RDI)

Photo of the week: In honor of International Women's Day just a week away, here is a glimpse of some of the 150 women in India who will be receiving title to their own plot of land this month. Come hear their story at Landesa's annual Seed the Change luncheon on March 9. Click here to register: http://www.landesa.org/get-involved/seed-the-change/

We celebrate Black History Month – and we are learning from it. Big insights for developing nations: http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/a_plot_of_land_a_path_to_freedom

Connecting the dots between women's status and child malnutrition:
Landesa's Renee Giovarelli writes in the Guardian about the "South Asian Enigma"... http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/poverty-matters/2012/jan/20/land-rights-india-women-ease-malnutrition?INTCMP=SRCH

Land rights for women can help ease India's child malnutrition crisis Renee Giovarelli: Despite progress on many fronts, India's child malnutrition rate rivals that of sub-Saharan Africa. Growing evidence shows a way forward – giving women legal control of the land they farm

Photo essay on what 'secure land rights' actually means for a farming family.
"My name is Asira Nzamwitaakuze, and we are land owners - me and my husband. And we are happy." http://www.landesa.org/photo-essay-asira/

Photo essay | Asira, Landowner “Now that I have a land title. I could take it to the bank and get a loan from the bank which I used to buy a cow.”

TRIVIA ANSWER: B) 1 billion
Of the world’s 7 billion people, 2.7 billion live on less than $2/day. Of those 2.7 billion, 1 billion lack legal rights to the land they farm.
Did you Know?
Landlessness is the best predictor of poverty. Without legal rights, poor families are at risk for land grabbing and displacement, making them more vulnerable to extreme poverty and malnourishment.

NEW Field Focus Blog | Chinese Government Bans Time Travel
By Keliang Zhu http://www.landesa.org/chinese-government-bans-time-travel/

Chinese Government Bans Time Travel How can a relatively-small foreign NGO like Landesa promote changes in China and how has it managed to be so effective?

TRIVIA TUESDAY: Answer: C) 2005
Did you know?
On October 12, 2011, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the amendment entitled Hindu daughters to the same property inheritance rights as sons. The court upheld the appeal of two daughters challenging a high court’s earlier decision. The Supreme Court’s ruling stated “the legislature has now conferred substantive right in favour of the daughters.” Great to see the law enforced!