Supporting sustainable pastoralist livelihoods

Tanzania has the third largest cattle herd in Africa, yet the contribution of livestock to the national economy remains small (30% of agricultural GDP). One of the reasons for this is that 80% of livestock exist in pastoral and agro-pastoral systems and the pastoralist contribution to national income - for example by supplying meat to urban areas - is not recorded.

In pastoralist areas, government policy supports crop farmers, tourism and other initiatives which the government perceives as more valuable to the economy.

Pastoralists are therefore actively marginalised from Tanzania’s development process and the current policies are increasing their poverty. Many are now unable to survive on livestock alone and, lacking the skills to farm sustainably in these areas, are tearing out vast tracts of grazing land for agriculture.

The goal of this project is the reduction in poverty for pastoralist communities through developing a secure livelihood based on livestock trade. The project is targeting around 600 families, but the impact of the project will be far-reaching, as it aims to contribute to beneficial policies for the entire pastoralist population.

Project activities:

• Improve land use in marginalised pastoralist areas through land use planning and appropriate agriculture.
• Support development of livestock keeper groups and creation of links with meat processing companies.
• Establish livestock product export framework in partnership with government and the Office International des Epizootics (OIE) and develop Tanzania’s export market for livestock and livestock products.
• Improve pastoralist livelihoods through sale of livestock products from pastoralist areas.

An increased income from pastoralist areas into the national economy will be used as a tool to engage the government in a debate designed to lead to a beneficial policy for all marginalised pastoralist communities.