OUR FOCUS
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.
Our key activities include rangeland restoration, exchange and learning visits, livestock breed improvement and management, and the control of invasive plant species. We support hands‑on restoration efforts such as soil bunds (Earth Smiles), the rehabilitation of olopololis, and the establishment of grass seed banks many of which are led by women, strengthening gender equity. We also use community radio to share knowledge and encourage learning by doing.
As rangeland management continues to evolve, we remain committed to continuous learning and adaptation through Ele’enore, education, health initiatives, youth empowerment including our annual event - the Osotua Tournament and deeper collaboration with local and international research institutions.
Impact on the Ground
The impact of this work is being felt on the ground. Restored areas are showing increased biomass, invasive species are being brought under control, and more women are actively engaged in Eramatare initiatives. Pastoralists are increasingly accessing grass seed to restore their own olopololis, while women‑led grass seed banks are generating income and meeting growing demand across the South Rift. These efforts are also contributing to more responsive and engaged community leadership.
At the same time, this work is carried out across a vast landscape with limited resources, slow technology adoption, local political dynamics, and persistent poverty. In response, our focus is on scaling what works. Next steps include expanding areas under intensive restoration, strengthening protection of boreholes and water sources, improving livestock breeds, and increasing the meaningful involvement of youth and women across all aspects of Eramatare.
