Tanzania

Pastoralist and Hunter-Gatherer Programme

Who Are Pastoralists?

Pastoralism is a complex natural resource management system based on seasonal variations (including wildlife migration), local needs, the eco-system and a broad base of indigenous knowledge. Pastoralists are semi-nomadic livestock keepers. For well over a century pastoralist communities have maintained large stocks of cattle, sheep and goats by rotating their grazing and watering areas, returning only when new grass is grown and the water sources have been replenished. It remains the only sustainable food producing land use option for most dry-land areas, yet the colonial myth that pastoralists have an exploitative, destructive relationship with their environment is still upheld today by some governments, conservation agencies and even NGOs.

Who are Hunter Gatherers?

Hunter-gathering is a subsistence way of life based on the hunting of wild animals, fishing and gathering wild plants, roots, seeds, insects and honey. They often depend solely on this mode of existence, moving in small, isolated bands over a defined territory to utilize water and food resources and to follow migrating game. This livelihood requires a detailed knowledge of the environment and a close adaptation to seasonal rhythms. It is a low impact, legitimate, semi-nomadic mode of production that ignores cultivation and livestock rearing in favour of consumption and local eco-systems. There is no storage of food and fire is often started by rubbing one stick against another. The Dorobo are two different ethnic groups - the Okyek and Akie - found in Kenya and Tanzania. In Tanzania their population is estimated at around 3000, scattered in the Maasai Steppes south of Arusha and Mount Kilimanjaro. The Hadzabe, another ethnic group of around 5,000, are in 2 areas around the world heritage site of Ngorongoro Crater.

African Initiatives’ Aims

This programme aims to support over 125,000 people in pastoralist and hunter-gatherer communities by securing access to land and improving education and representation, especially for women. This is achieved through our partnerships with two local community organisations: the Pastoral Women’s Council (PWC) and The Ujamaa Community Resource trust (CRT). The PWC is the only Maasai women led organisation in Tanzania which aims to promote the cultural, political, environmental and educational development of pastoralist women and children, facilitating access to social services and economic development. The CRT promotes environmental sustainability and social justice for pastoralists and hunter-gatherers. African Initiatives has worked with these organisations for eight years and helped support and strengthen them so that they are now accountable, effective and well managed.