UJAMAA COMMUNITY RESOURCE TEAM - 12 year partnership

A 12 year partnership: The Impact of UCRT's gender program with the support of Wellspring

When UCRT first began working with pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in Northern Tanzania, one truth quickly became clear: women’s voices were missing. Decisions about land, livestock, and resources were dominated by men, while women, who carried the daily weight of fetching water, caring for families, and tending herds, were excluded from the very conversations that shaped their lives.
It was with the vision and support of the Wellspring Foundation that UCRT set out to change this reality. Together, we planted the seeds of a gender program and the beginning of a powerful movement for women’s rights, leadership, and equality.
Women’s Forums: From Small Gatherings to a MovementThe first Women’s Rights and Leadership Forums (WRLFs) were modest circles—just a handful of women meeting under a tree to discuss their challenges. With Wellspring’s support, these gatherings have flourished into a network of 97 forums spanning villages across Northern Tanzania. Today, more than 5,000 women come together through WRLFs, sharing knowledge, solidarity, and courage.

For many women, these meetings were the first time they heard that the law recognises their right to own land. Empowered with this knowledge, women began to take bold steps. Over 1,000 Maasai women now hold land titles (CCROs) in their own names, something that once seemed impossible in a culture where land ownership was reserved for men. At the same time, WRLFs gave rise to Community Microfinance Groups (CMGs), which became a powerful tool for women’s economic independence. By pooling their savings, women invested in livestock and other ventures, collectively building businesses now valued at over $400,000 USD.

Voices in LeadershipThe change has not stopped at the household or village level. Women who once sat silently at the edges of community meetings now join key discussions on the management of land and natural resources. To date, 748 women have been elected to village councils, with hundreds more serving in other decision-making roles. They bring new perspectives—advocating for children’s education, healthcare, and sustainable land management.
One of the most inspiring examples is Mrs. Vailet Elias Lukumay from Mswakini Chini village in Monduli District. After joining her local WRLF in 2016, she gained the confidence and knowledge to run for office. In 2019, she made history as the first woman ever elected as Village Chairperson in her community, beating three male candidates. Today, she leads with vision and has since been re-elected, where she can continue balancing the protection of natural resources with the needs of her people, championing land rights, and serving as a role model for the next generation of Maasai girls.

Shifting Culture, Changing FuturesPerhaps most remarkable is how this program has begun to shift cultural norms themselves. Through land and leadership summits supported by Wellspring, over 6,000 women and male traditional leaders have come together to question and re-examine harmful practices. These gatherings what began as Women’s Rights and Leadership Forums (WRLFs) and expanded into broader community forums—placed critical investment in ensuring women had the voice, courage, and power to engage directly with the male traditional leadership system. By doing so, women were able to work with, rather than outside of, these structures to bring about the change they needed for their own .
These dialogues culminated in the creation of the Maa Constitution, a groundbreaking cultural charter that enshrines women’s rights within the Maasai community. For a society long defined by patriarchal structures, this has marked nothing less than a generational turning point.

A Lasting Legacy

The Wellspring Foundation’s support was not only catalytic in starting UCRT’s gender program—it has been a steady companion throughout its growth. The flexibility of Wellspring’s funding allowed UCRT to fill critical human resource needs, including staff salaries, which strengthened our capacity and building a strong gender team that could deliver this ambitious vision. Just as importantly, Wellspring’s trust and long-term commitment gave UCRT the stability to leverage additional funding, expanding the program’s reach far beyond its initial scope.
Today, women across Northern Tanzania are landowners, entrepreneurs, leaders, and defenders of both culture and nature. They are reshaping their communities and ensuring that their daughters grow up seeing women in positions of power. This transformation—and the ripple effect it has sparked—stands as a lasting legacy of Wellspring’s vision and partnership.

Ashe Wellspring, for your invaluable support!
The Ujamaa Community Resource Team

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​A 12 year partnership: The Impact of UCRT's gender program with the support of Wellspring

A 12 year partnership: The Impact of UCRT's gender program with the support of Wellspring