THE NEXUS BETWEEN LAND TENURE, EQUITY, AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE AMONG DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED POPULATIONS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Context and background Climate change disproportionately affects low-income countries, compounding historical and intersectional inequalities related to land tenure and equity. Southern Africa presents an ideal case for studying this nexus due to its high vulnerability, endemic poverty and dependence on rain fed agriculture. Understanding the connections between land tenure, equity and climate resilience is thus crucial for building sustainable and resilient futures. It has been noted that farmers with secure land tenure have enhanced capacity to invest in their land and adopt sustainable climate change resilience approaches. Goal and Objectives: The goal of this study is to critically examine the nexus between land tenure arrangements, social equity dynamics and climate resilience, and their influence on the adaptive capacity of disproportionately affected populations in Southern Africa. Specific objectives include identifying integrated studies, reviewing tenure systems, evaluating equity dimensions, assessing impacts on resilience strategies and identifying research gaps and policy implications. Methodology: The PRISMA guidelines were used to conduct a systematic review of Scopus, PubMed and EBSCO databases using Boolean operators and keywords related to land tenure, equity, climate resilience and Southern Africa countries. Results: The review revealed that while all the included studies integrated the three themes, the depth of coverage varied among the authors. Land tenure security was consistently linked as a barrier to improved adaptive capacity. It emerged that women were disproportionately affected by gendered inequalities driven by patriarchal norms and historical legacies. Actionable strategies such as smart agriculture, agro-ecology and indigenous knowledge systems as well as inclusive policies were identified. Significant research gaps remain in fully integrated and holistic studies.