CRT

CRT - The Community Resource Team 

 Access to communally owned and shared land is crucial to the Maasai livelihood, and cattle are the dominant measure of social status. However the economic value of livestock rearing has been undermined by poor infrastructure and the higher financial returns from other land uses, such as tourism, conservation and hunting. While these economic activities grow on the abundance of wildlife and natural beauty sustained by pastoralists, pastoralists themselves have been excluded from sharing the generated revenue. In fact, in cases like the world-famous Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, Maasai have even been evicted from and denied any rights over their traditional lands. This often results in the break-up of Maasai communities, the eradication of their culture and the destruction of their environment, and ultimately – poverty.

Land Use Planning

Basing their work on the existing Tanzanian law & constitution which recognises the legitimacy of traditional land tenures, the CRT has been utilising time honoured democratic structures (Village Councils) to successfully resolve conflicts and secure access to land and community natural resources. So far the CRT team has facilitated land use planning in 4 villages, supported and advised 3 Village Councils in opposing hunting blocks, increased participation at General Assemblies, attended a Frankfurt Zoological Society workshop conservation to put across the community perspective, and hosted a meeting on NGOs in Loliondo!

Mobilisation

The CRT believes that advocacy must be participatory and seek to actively mobilise the communities and their organisations to participate and advocate on pastoralist issues at a village and national level. To strengthen their capacity to participate, the CRT is increasing community awareness on the importance of formal and informal education while promoting the relevance of indigenous traditional knowledge. Further trainings on human rights, democracy awareness, and advocacy is also delivered, together with a focus on linking and collaborating with other community organisations.

Spreading the Work