SORALO | Thematic Areas

Thematic Areas

GOVERNANCE

SORALO’s Governance work focuses on strengthening communal decision-making processes to ensure that communities within the South Rift landscape secure rights to land. This is critical because the future of these pastoral communities is primarily dependent on functional governance systems for shared resources to be managed sustainably
We work with communities through their existing leadership structures, creating platforms for dialogue and supporting informed decision‑making through training and capacity building. Our role is purely facilitative we do not make decisions for communities but support them to lead and own their processes.

RANGELANDS (ERAMATARE)

Our Rangelands (Eramatare) work focuses on restoring degraded rangelands while strengthening their productivity and resilience across the South Rift landscape. By improving how rangelands are managed, we support sustainable livelihoods and promote peaceful coexistence among communities and wildlife who depend on these shared ecosystems.
We work with communities who own and manage the land, using our community‑first approach that values collaboration, shared learning, and local leadership. By combining new ideas with indigenous knowledge, we support a continuous learning through Ele’enore, where communities learn from one another and adapt together.

Knowldege Sharing and Learning

Across the South Rift landscape, there is a growing need to equip communities especially young people – both local and international, with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to navigate a rapidly changing environment while preserving culture and strengthening coexistence with nature. However, access to consistent learning opportunities, mentorship, and platforms for cultural exchange remains limited, particularly across such a vast and diverse landscape.

SORALO’s Knowledge Sharing and Learning thematic area responds to this by creating spaces where learning is practical, grounded, and community-driven. This work is anchored in three conservation hubs: Lale’enok Resource Centre in Olkiramatian, Olmesutie Resource Centre in Loita, and the Olorgesailie Museum in Olorgesailie. Through these centres, SORALO engages directly with communities, schools, and partner organisations to promote conservation education, cultural preservation, and youth development.

Inclusion & Well-Being

At SORALO we support women, youth, and persons with disabilities to participate meaningfully in conservation and to benefit from sustainable, conservation-compatible livelihoods.

This thematic area brings together inclusion and well-being. Our inclusion work focuses on women, youth, and persons with disabilities, while our well-being work promotes health, welfare, and safeguarding. We catalyse community conversations on conservation and well-being including maternal and reproductive health, mental health, and their relevance to conservation while creating pathways for mentorship and conservation-compatible enterprises across the landscape.

Health and Wellbeing

COEXISTENCE

It is estimated that a significant proportion of Kenya’s wildlife is found outside of formally protected areas, mainly on community land. In the light of national declines in wildlife, community areas have become critical for biodiversity conservation across the country. The Maasai have lived with wildlife for centuries through their traditional semi-nomadic pastoral lifestyle, and what could be called a ‘culture of coexistence’. Given this, the conserving coexistence programme puts communities and their livelihoods first, which can subsequently create safe space for wildlife and people. Our work under this programme includes supporting our regional network of community game scouts, helping prevent and manage human-carnivore conflict through our Rebuilding the Pride programme, and assisting communities to develop and manage their conservancies

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