Overview
The article examines tenure insecurity on Zambia’s customary land amid urbanization, speculation, and conversions to state land, which disproportionately affect women. It documents a pilot in Chamuka Chiefdom where community-led enumerations, mapping, and the Social Tenure Domain Model (STDM) were used to record land parcels and issue customary land occupancy certificates. The intervention surveyed 538 parcels, enumerated 561 households, and issued 530 certificates benefiting 3,584 people (57% women). Outcomes include enhanced tenure security, reduced boundary and succession disputes, improved capacity via training of para-surveyors, and greater leverage for communities to negotiate with investors, leading to new investments and compensation agreements. The process promoted women’s land rights through joint certification and a chiefdom policy reserving 50% of new allocations for women. Lessons highlight the affordability and inclusiveness of fit-for-purpose tools compared to formal titling and their role in strengthening transparent customary governance and informing national policy discussions.