Context:

Land tenure security has become the prime objective of policy and legislative frameworks within Tanzania?s recent land reform processes. The reforms are also crucial elements of fiscal policies, livelihoods development, equality and land dispute settlement issues among different actors. Land regularization and formalization processes are key elements of major reforms in Tanzania such MKURABITA and land bank concepts. The national Livestock Policy 2006 recognizes traditional livestock breeds and processes being dominant and major contributor to sector GDP and import substitution for domestic consumption of red meat. The policy document illustrates that the livestock activities contribute 7.4% to the country's GDP. Pastoral and agro-pastoral production accounts for 94% of red meat supply. Tanzania Short Horn Zebu is the most widespread cattle breed in the nation. Pastoralism in Tanzania is mainly practiced by the indigenous communities of Maasai and Datoga ethnic groups in the northern parts central and southern regions of Tanzania including also the Sukuma and Gogo tribes in the central and western parts of the country. Pastoralism constitute the best optimal land use practices in the most fragile ecosystems within arid and semi arid lands where other form of land use other than wildlife conservation are hardly practicable. Despite its significant contribution pastoralism is obscured in sectoral policies of livestock development which in essence are highly fragmented such Tanzania Livestock Modernization Initiative, Livestock Sector Development Strategy and so forth. In other words, there is lack of comprehensive policy frameworks to cater for complexity and dynamic challenges. Land is the most critical livelihood resource for sustainability of pastoral economy. The national Livestock policy 2006 however acknowledges that Tanzanian rangelands are under dual pressure of over-exploitation and land conversion. Pastoralists? lifestyle is form of livelihood activities in rangelands traditionally characterized by nomadic system of seasonal movements of people and livestock. Historically, pastoralists have been the victims of land grabbing through various ways including government sponsored forceful eviction, encroachment by peasant and large scale commercial farmers. Most of the Tanzania?s rangelands where pastoralist activities take place under communal land ownership are generally considered vacant or unused as such attracts for agricultural encroachment and conversion to other land use. As such land disputes have persistently become inevitable among communities with diverse socio-economic interests. Moreover, the effects of climate change on pastoral livelihood system cannot be underestimated. Despite having policy and legislative frameworks in place, progress for CCROs issuance in most pastoral villages remains subtle and practically vague. The project aims at enhancing the issue of land security within pastoral context by ensuring village grazing lands are legally recognized and protected under customary rights of occupancy. Activities are simple basing on existing land management frameworks as well as innovative approaches. An estimated total population of 14,600 (including indirect beneficiaries of 7,446 women and 7,154 men) will be impacted by various project activities in 4 villages of the two Wards. A total duration of 12 months will be used to implement the project and assess impact.

About the Proponent:
Women Development for Science and Technology Association (WODSTA) is a non-governmental organization based in Arusha, Tanzania. It was started in 1990 and officially registered in 1992. WODSTA is a women's membership organization whose philosophy and activities are focused on enhancing the status and position of women in Tanzania. WODSTA envisions a society in which women are empowered, motivated and have equal opportunities with men. Its mission focuses to work on gender equality, natural resources management, rural energy initiatives, food processing, marketing and preservation. Other areas on which WODSTA also works are environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods for women in Tanzania. Its goal is to support women in their communities to become empowered through gender equitable and sustainable development initiatives. In order to realize its mission and implement programs and projects on the mentioned thematic areas, WODSTA has a team of competent and dedicated staff who are committed to delivering program results efficiently and effectively within provided timeframes.

The organization has a long and wide experience in managing similar projects aiming at land conflicts resolution processes. WODSTA conducted Pastoral Land Use Conflict Resolution and Advocacy Project funded by Care International which intended to address land use conflicts issues in pastoral communities. Also WODSTA implemented a Project titled Promoting Access to Land and Property Rights for Women as well as Promoting Women Land Rights and Livelihood project with financial support from the Foundation for Civil Society. The objective was to enable Women in Arusha District to have access to and control over land and basic household resources necessary for wellbeing and development. WODSTA?s capacity and experience of working in Arumeru district will also assist to expedite the project outcomes.



Project?s Primary Objective:

Strengthening security of land tenure and grazing rights for pastoral communities through empowerment and access to customary rights of occupancy in four grazing land which can be scaled up by May 2022.
Specific objective is to facilitate capacities of local pastoral communities on effective land governance and procedures towards access to customary rights of occupancy in 4 pastoral villages of Mwandeti/Musa Ward in Arumeru district by May 2022