As we step into a new year, we are filled with excitement and purpose, setting our sights on impactful projects that align with our mission of empowering communities to secure land rights and foster sustainable governance. Among the new initiatives launching this year is the Participatory Development of Natural Resource Governance (PODONG) project, developed in partnership with IUCN and funded by the Canadian Government. PODONG will be implemented in the Longido, Simanjiro, Yaeda-Eyasi, and Monduli landscapes, focusing on addressing key challenges such as resource conflicts, environmental degradation, and inequities in resource distribution


Guided by the outcomes of our 2024 end-of-year General Assembly, we remain deeply committed to listening to and learning from the communities we serve. These annual gatherings provide a vital platform for community members and leaders to share their insights, helping us refine our approach to tackling challenges and seizing opportunities together. This partnership-driven model lies at the heart of UCRT’s  focus for 2025: to support communities in protecting their rights and shaping sustainable futures on their own terms.


We also began the year with renewed energy after a staff retreat to the breathtaking Tanzanian coast at the end of 2024. Hosted by our partner organization, the Dorobo Fund, in Pangani, this retreat strengthened our team’s bond and reminded us of the diverse beauty we work to preserve. A day trip to Zanzibar—for many, it was a first-time visit, and the trip served as a reminder of the unique and diverse cultures we celebrate here in Tanzania.

We need your support!
Vote for UCRT at the Smiley Charity Film Awards
Kicking off the year, we are excited to share that the Ashden Awards have submitted a powerful film showcasing UCRT’s work to the Smiley Charity Film Awards. These awards celebrate cause-driven films that highlight impactful stories and elevate the voices of grassroots changemakers. This submission offers a remarkable opportunity to shine a global spotlight on the vital work of securing land rights and protecting traditional livelihoods in Tanzania, while amplifying our partners’ voices and sharing their inspiring stories with the world.

But we need your help to make it happen! Your vote can make a difference in elevating our work to new heights. Please take a moment to support us and share this opportunity with others who believe in empowering communities.

As we look towards a great year ahead, we are inspired by the collective strength of the communities we serve, the dedication of our team, and the unwavering support from partners like you. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Let’s make 2025 a year of transformative impact and shared success.


With gratitude,

The Ujamaa Community Resource Team

Thanks to the support of our partners, stakeholders and supporters we’ve made significant strides toward securing land and natural resource rights, championing the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IP&LCs), and placing their voices at the heart of conservation efforts.
From global platforms like CBD COP26 and COP29 to on-the-ground projects, last year was marked by collaboration, innovation, and recognition of our work. A highlight of our year was receiving the Ashden Global South Natural Climate Solutions Award, celebrating our impactful approach to empowering communities and promoting climate resilience.

What We Achieved in Numbers for
Thriving People in Thriving Landscapes, 2024

• Facilitated the creation of 12 new land use plans, bringing the total area under sustainable protection to 3.9 million hectares.
• Issued 13 new Certificates of Customary Right of Occupancy (CCROs), safeguarding an additional 300,000 hectares, contributing to a total of 2 million hectares of protected land. This ensures communities have secure land tenure and can sustainably manage their resources
• Welcomed 1,008 new members into our Women’s Rights and Leadership Forums. These spaces empower women to lead decision-making processes, advocate for their rights, and drive meaningful change.
• Community members from Makame earned a remarkable $1,440,000 through carbon income, helping boost local livelihoods.
  
  Inclusive Conservation in Action: Bringing African IPLC Leaders Together
  This year, we proudly hosted the Africa Regional Learning Exchange in Tanzania, as part of the Inclusive Conservation Initiative (ICI) funded by GEF. This event brought together 37 participants, including Indigenous leaders, IPLC rights activists, and community members from across Africa.
  The week-long gathering highlighted the power of partnerships, including ANAPAC (DRC), IMPACT (Kenya), and UCRT, showcasing how secure land tenure and inclusive governance transform biodiversity conservation and community well-being. By working together, we aimed to enhance our indigenous-led conservation efforts and extend our reach far beyond individual projects.
  
  Key Highlights:
• Sharing Models and Approaches: Participants from Tanzania, Kenya, and DRC shared insights on successful models for integrating Indigenous and local knowledge into biodiversity conservation and climate resilience efforts from each region.
• Community Visits: Participants traveled to the Yaeda Valley, witnessing firsthand the success of the Hadzabe and Datoga communities in securing land rights and preserving cultural heritage.
• Village Land Certificates: The event marked the milestone handover of village land certificates to the Iraqw communities in the Mbulu district, a step toward sustainable land governance.

Ashden Award: A Testament to Our Impact
Winning the Ashden Global South Natural Climate Solutions Award highlights our dedication to solutions that harmonize environmental stewardship with community well-being. Our model of securing collective land rights, resolving conflicts, and fostering sustainable livelihoods, demonstrates how participatory climate-smart strategies that integrate traditional knowledge and practices can safeguard vital ecosystems across Tanzania.

Over the first half of the year, we’ve been hard at work- deepening our engagement across program areas, reaching further into our landscapes, and strengthening our impact every step of the way. Here are some snapshots of our recent achievements:

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A Call for Celebration for our Simanjiro and Yaeda Programs.  
In the heart of Simanjiro District, a powerful moment unfolded for land rights. More than 500 community members came together with district leaders in Langasiti Village- not just to receive land certificates, but to celebrate something deeply meaningful for so many.
After months of dedication across our Simanjiro and Yaeda programs, we delivered the formal handover of both individual and communal land title certificates to communities that have long awaited this day. The path to formal land ownership is often long- from identifying areas of need, to holding village assemblies, to mapping and demarcation, and finally, to the legal issuance of land titles.
Yet no matter how complex the process, our commitment never wavers. We remain focused on the goal: achieving land tenure security that benefits all members of the community.
This time, we were especially proud to reach vulnerable community members- including women, youth, widows, and persons with disabilities- ensuring they now hold powerful legal and social protections over the land they rely on.

What We Achieved — Together:
✔️ 250 individual land titles (CCROs) issued across 8 villages
✔️ 70% awarded to women and persons with disabilities - making land ownership more inclusive than ever
✔️ 14 Certificates of Village Land and 7 Communal CCROs handed over
✔️ A total of 272,741 hectares secured - that’s 22 times the size of Arusha City
✔️ Over 11,600 people now have legal protection over their land

This is land supports livelihoods, sustains traditions, and strengthens community resilience. And now, it’s protected- by law, by leadership, and by the voices of the communities themselves.
These achievements were made possible through the valuable support of our donors, local government, and partners. Together, we’ve not only helped create a more secure future for thousands- but also moved one step closer to full land tenure security across northern Tanzania.
To date, approximately 70% of the land across our program areas has been secured. As we look ahead, we’re preparing to expand into new geographic regions, beyond northern Tanzania- guided by the needs of communities and focusing our efforts where support is most urgently needed. Hang tight on where these new areas will be!

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Advancing Research on Indigenous Governance and Land Rights

We were also pleased to host a team from the University of California, Santa Cruz, guiding them through key landscapes to engage directly with key staff members, grazing committees and local leaders. Their visit marked the beginning of a collaborative research study exploring how stronger Indigenous governance and land tenure influence social-ecological outcomes in northwest Tanzania. This work will not only support our strategy to enhance documentation, but also add to the growing body of academic research that demonstrates the broad, long-term benefits of our projects and thematic areas providing robust evidence to support continued recognition and implementation across Tanzania.

 
As we move into the second half of the year, we remain grounded in our mission- supporting communities to secure their rights, protect their landscapes, and shape their futures on their own terms.
Thank you for walking this path with us. Your partnership continues to make this work possible- and meaningful.
In solidarity,

The UCRT Team

Empowerment, Justice, Stewardship