OUR THEMATIC PROGRAMMES
Across its working areas, UCRT has six thematic programmes targeting vital issues that are fundamental to building equitable societies that can sustainably manage and benefit from their environments:
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We work dually to support the rights and well-being of communities and the flora and fauna of northern Tanzania by helping communities adaptively improve and strengthen their management systems and practices. This includes facilitating village land use plans and natural resource management bylaws, and building capacity to sustainably manage rangelands across village borders. A key part of this work involves supporting rotational grazing plans and promoting holistic grazing management to restore degraded lands, maintain pasture health, and ensure long-term resilience of both livestock and ecosystems.
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Through Women Rights and Leadership Forums (WRLFs), women are supported to advocate for their rights to own, utilise, and benefit from land and property. For particularly marginalised groups,
such as the Akie and Hadza hunter-gatherers, UCRT helps grow their capacity to represent and advocate for themselves by supporting the education of youth. |
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UCRT addresses policy challenges that affect land security, governance, and resource management. We tackle weak legislation, raise legal awareness, and resolve conflicts like those in
Lake Natron and Ngorongoro. UCRT advocates for fair policies, protects land rights, and uses legal frameworks to uphold justice and community rights. |
"At UCRT, we believe that securing land rights, strengthening community governance, and empowering indigenous leadership are the foundations of a just and sustainable future. Our work is driven by the voices of the communities we serve, ensuring they have the tools and knowledge to protect their land, livelihoods, and way of life—now and for generations to come."
- PAINE MAKO, DIRECTOR
OUR APPROACH
We approach the implementation of these thematic programmes in a broad and comprehensive way, which we believe has been key to our successes. We are committed to the principles of equity, participation and representation. We work only in areas where there is a strong commitment to confront challenging development issues on the part of the community and its elected and customary leadership. We ensure that participatory processes are truly participatory and do not merely involve a few village leaders or elites. We work hard to include all marginalized members of a community in order to gain a truly collective voice. We prioritize women’s empowerment and rights across thematic areas, and through our strategic partnership with other organisations such the Pastoral Women’s Council (PWC) and PINGOS Forum.
Laying the groundwork for truly participatory processes takes time and effort, but it is precisely this additional effort that is key to building a broad yet deep consensus among members of a community, thereby leading to sustainable outcomes and progressive societal change. If people are put first, their rights upheld, and self-advocacy strengthened, they can achieve truly transformational improvements in their communities, for society at large, and for the ecosystems which we all share.
Laying the groundwork for truly participatory processes takes time and effort, but it is precisely this additional effort that is key to building a broad yet deep consensus among members of a community, thereby leading to sustainable outcomes and progressive societal change. If people are put first, their rights upheld, and self-advocacy strengthened, they can achieve truly transformational improvements in their communities, for society at large, and for the ecosystems which we all share.
