The Kisongo, Manyara and Makueni Integrated Development Programme,

Monduli District, Arusha Region, Tanzania 2002-2005

Context

ICA Tanzania has been working with the wider community and twenty groups in Kisongo and Manyara for the two years 2000-2002. The area was chosen originally because of the few other organisations working in the two divisions and due to the overall vulnerability of the people there, who are predominantly Maasai pastoralists. Based on that experience, and having consulted local NGOs, CBOs, Informal Economic Groups, the local authority and the local communities themselves, key problems affecting the local development of the people in the areas of health, environment, education, human rights, access to capital and business skills, leadership and planning skills were identified.

The initial intervention had made some progress, particularly in building good relations and gaining a better understanding of the community. The current programme was designed to build on those achievements and lessons to address the remaining gaps and challenges that had emerged. ICA:UK’s role includes both acting as the project holder but also providing support and advice to ICA Tanzania both in organizational development and programme implementation.

Objectives

1. Building the capacity of ICA Tanzania to expand its involvement with displaced people and migrant communities

2. Developing the capacity of 20 local groups from amongst the (predominantly) Maasai and Waarusha peoples in Kisongo and Manyara Divisions, Monduli District, Tanzania

Strategies/activities

a) Strengthening of the groups in leadership and participatory management and facilitation skills

b) Development of business skills within the groups to enable them to manage projects of their own and promote sustainability, as well as being able to pass on their skills to others

c) Training of teachers in functional literacy. Some of the group members are illiterate and feel the need to learn how to communicate better with people outside their own community.

d) Developing the capacity of specific groups to work with the community to address issues such as poor health (caused by poor quality housing, poor water and sanitation, etc.), environmental degradation.

e) Raising awareness of rights and strengthening the ability to exercise them by improving the levels of legal literacy in the groups and community.

f) Improving and expanding the current skills and strengthening the base of ICA Tanzania in Monduli in order to guide and support the groups through this next stage of their growth.

Progress to date

During the first year, implementation of the activities was slower than planned, but the majority of the activities planned for the first year were carried out successfully, resulting in significant progress being seen in the areas of group strengthening and legal literacy in particular. In addition the year saw the expansion of the staff working on the programme, and the establishment of a programme office/resource centre in Mto wa Mbu.

In the second year, tremendous progress has been noted in the development of group capacity, income generating activities and functional literacy (through the REFLECT classes). Other activities also continued to have the intended impact especially the HIV/AIDS community mobilization initiative, legal literacy and reducing health risks for mothers and children from Indoor Air Pollution.

In the current year, credit is being given to selected groups, in addition to wider community initiatives on HIV/AIDS and legal and functional literacy.

Challenges that still need addressing:

a) The tendency of pastoralists to move in order to avoid the persistent drought in the area: not only does this make training and support difficult, but points towards a need to address the water issue in the area.

b) The strength of the Maasai beliefs and culture makes them more resistant to change, and

c) There are increasing demands for more support and training as groups develop and identify new areas they want to grow into.