case studies undp: il ngwesi group ranch, kenya

7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: IL NGWESI GROUP RANCH, Kenya

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Equator Initiative Case StudiesLocal sustainable development solutions for people, nature, and resilient communities

KenyaIL NGWESI GROUP RANCH

Empowered live

Resilient nation


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UNDP EQUATOR INITIATIVE CASE STUDY SERIES

Local and indigenous communities across the world are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that wo

or people and or nature. Few publications or case studies tell the ull story o how such initiatives evolve, the breadth

their impacts, or how they change over time. Fewer still have undertaken to tell these stories with community practition

themselves guiding the narrative.

To mark its 10-year anniversary, the Equator Initiative aims to ll this gap. The ollowing case study is one in a growing ser

that details the work o Equator Prize winners vetted and peer-reviewed best practices in community-based environmenconservation and sustainable livelihoods. These cases are intended to inspire the policy dialogue needed to take local succ

to scale, to improve the global knowledge base on local environment and development solutions, and to serve as models

replication. Case studies are best viewed and understood with reerence to The Power o Local Action: Lessons rom 10 Years

the Equator Initiative, a compendium o lessons learned and policy guidance that draws rom the case material.

Click on the map to visit the Equator Initiatives searchable case study database.

EditorsEditor-in-Chie: Joseph CorcoranManaging Editor: Oliver Hughes

Contributing Editors: Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Erin Lewis, Whitney Wilding

Contributing WritersEdayatu Abieodun Lamptey, Erin Atwell, Toni Blackman, Jonathan Clay, Joseph Corcoran, Larissa Currado, Sarah Gordon, Oliver Hughe

Wen-Juan Jiang, Sonal Kanabar, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Rachael Lader, Patrick Lee, Erin Lewis, Jona Liebl, Mengning Ma,

Mary McGraw, Gabriele Orlandi, Brandon Payne, Juliana Quaresma, Peter Schecter, Martin Sommerschuh, Whitney Wilding, Luna Wu

DesignOliver Hughes, Dearbhla Keegan, Matthew Konsa, Amy Korngiebel, Kimberly Koserowski, Erin Lewis, John Mulqueen, Lorena de la Pa

Brandon Payne, Mariajos Satizbal G.

AcknowledgementsThe Equator Initiative acknowledges with gratitude the Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, and in particular the guidance and inputs o James Ka

and Caroline Karimi. All photo credits courtesy o I l Ngwesi Group Ranch. Maps courtesy o CIA World Factbook and Wikipedia.

Suggested Citation

United Nations Development Programme. 2012. Il Ngwesi Group Ranch, Kenya. Equator Initiative Case Study Series. New York, NY.
http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_winners&view=casestudysearch&Itemid=858http://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdfhttp://equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/Power_of_Local_Action_Final_2013.pdf


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PROJECT SUMMARYThis Maasai group ranch in the central Kenyan district oLaikipia has established an 8,645-hectare community-conserved area that balances the needs o local pastoralistswith wildlie conservation and the operation o a lucrativeeco-lodge. One o the pioneering and most successul oKenyas Maasai-owned ecotourism initiatives, Il Ngwesihas served as a model or replication across the country.Its sanctuary rangers ensure a high level o security or theconserved area, which has played a key role in a network oconnected wildlie protected areas and corridors in central

Kenya.In addition to the areas o reshwater management andeducation, ecotourism revenues have been invested intargeted health interventions. The group is a lead partner ina health campaign which oers awareness-raising, testingand counseling, or HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, thecampaign has targeted thirteen local group ranches or acombined population o 40,000 people.

KEY FACTS

EQUATOR PRIZE WINNER: 2002

FOUNDED: 1995

LOCATION: Laikipia District, Kenya

BENEFICIARIES: 7,000 Laikipiak Maasai pastoralists

BIODIVERSITY: Lewa Wildlife Sanctuary

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IL NGWESI GROUP RANCHKenya

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Background and Context 4

Key Activities and Innovations 6

Biodiversity Impacts 7

Socioeconomic Impacts 7

Policy Impacts 9

Sustainability 10

Replication 11

Partners 11


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4

Ngwesi Group Ranch consists o 8,645 hectares o community-

managed land located in Mukogodo Division, Laikipia District, north

Mount Kenya. It sits next to the Ngare Ndare River, on the edge

the Mukogodo Hills, and consists predominantly o semi-arid and

rid savannah land. The ranch is owned and managed by the local

opulation o almost 7,000 Laikipiak Maasai pastoralists. Key species

ound in the area include the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum),

Arican elephant (Loxodonta aricana), Arican wild dog (Lycaon

ictus) and Grevys zebra (Equus grevyi), while the area is also a

anctuary or the critically endangered black rhino (Diceros bicornis).

he Group Ranch has been able to promote conservation and

enerate income-generating opportunities or its members through

he conservation o around 80% o the ranch area, a reductionn the Maasais dependence on livestock, and the promotion o

onservation-riendly ecotourism.

A context o environmental, social and economic threats

ollowing the end o commercial hunting in the area during the

970s, local people used rearms purchased rom Somali reugees

o poach wildlie indiscriminately. By the late 1980s, elephant

opulations had been signicantly reduced and rhinos had

isappeared rom the area. The Il Ngwesi land remained an important

wildlie corridor between Laikipia and Samburu, but the ecosystem

was simultaneously coming under threat rom deorestation, with

ections o the Mukogodo orest being cleared or timber, uel wood,nd or agriculture. As well as contributing to widespread land

egradation, this also increased local tensions between pastoralists

nd armers. Human development indicators were low, meanwhile:

here were ew schools in the area, contributing to low levels o

ducational attainment, while the entire district was served by one

overnment-run hospital, with a doctor-to-patient ratio o 1:44,000.

Over-reliance on livestock, the decline o traditional grazing

management systems, and human-wildlie conict meant that the

Maasai tribes livelihoods were under threat. The poverty o the area

in turn threatened the security o Lewa Downs, a privately-ow

wildlie conservancy directly to the south o Il Ngwesi. In respo

the management team at Lewa, with support rom Kenya Wi

Service, encouraged the ormation o a community conserved

within Il Ngwesi, and the creation o an ecotourism attractio

generate revenue. They engaged Maasai elders and comm

leaders in the process, trained local people as rangers, and overc

initial skepticism within the communities to establish the Il Ng

Group Ranch in 1995.

A community-owned conservation initiative

Lewa Conservancy has been a constant partner in Il Ngwconservation work since 1995. The chie means through which

group has sought to encourage sustainable land management

development o a community-owned ecotourism enterprise, cen

on the construction o a luxury eco-lodge and conservation o

areas agship wildlie species. Il Ngwesi Lodge was opened in 1

and caters to the high-end Kenyan tourism market. The lodge i

by Il Ngwesi Company Ltd. and has stimulated the developme

various other conservation-based enterprises, such as cultural bo

(villages), artisanal handicrat production, and community-run c

sites. The revenues generated by these initiatives are reinvest

inrastructural projects that are prioritized by the Maasai comm

at annual general meetings. To date, revenues have been use

water inrastructure projects, schools, educational scholarshipsextensive health outreach services.

Holistic land management is central to Il Ngwesis strategie

conservation and development. Management o the group r

land area has involved its division into settlement and conserv

areas. The latter is urther divided into a relatively small core z

measuring 5km2 (500 hectares) and a larger buer zone o 6

hectares. Within this buer zone, pastoralists are permitted to g

livestock during dry periods, making it an important strateg

reducing the impacts o droughts. Meanwhile, various inrastruc

Background and Context


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55

rojects within the ranch area help to prevent soil erosion and

maintain paths, while access to water has been improved or local

ommunities. The Maasai group ranch members play a participatory

ole in all land-use decisions.

Governance and organizational structure

he Il Ngwesi Community Trust committee (or Natural ResourceManagement committee) consists o ourteen representatives rom

he seven Maasai communities. The committee meets three times

year to hear proposals rom the community representatives and

ebate decisions concerning the management o the group ranch

r particular land-use regulations. The Community Trust committee

as a legal advisor to review proposals; once agreed upon, these

roposals are taken to the Group Ranch committee.

he Group Ranch committee consists wholly o Maasai community

members, although they also seek advice rom government

epartments and other partners in specic areas o expertise,

ncluding issues such as land acquisition, updating the members

egister, and nancial management. The Group Ranch committees led by a Board o Directors, comprised o six elected members o

he community and three external experts. Decisions are reerred

o the Group Ranch committee or a vote, beore being outlined

t an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting to gain

he approval o the entire community. Elections are also held at

he Annual General Meetings, as well as audited accounts being

resented to the members.

o solidiy this management structure, the Group Ranch developed a

onstitution to establish clear decision-making and implementation

rocesses. This includes the objectives, duties and powers o

ommittees, ofce bearers, members, and non-member residents;

rocedures or nancial management, conict resolution, andmeetings; and a description o the areas, rules and sanctions or

ierent activities, such as grazing, conservation, and camp sites.

he Group Ranch also has provisions or a salaried secretariat,

ncluding a Programme Manager, responsible or carrying out

he operations o the Group Ranch. Other innovative provisions

nclude a commitment to retire 50% o all committee members

t each election (elections are held every ve years or the Group

Ranch Committee and every two years or the Community T

Committee), so that newly acquired skills gained through tra

are retained, but a reasonable turnover o personnel is ensured

The lodge itsel is run as an independent limited company w

majority shareholding owned by the Group Ranch, and is gove

by a board made up o our community members, representa

rom Lewa and Borana conservancies, and the local MembeParliament. The project typically employs around 32 sta; 24

employed ull-time, with 15 working at the lodge and nine ull-

guards, while casual workers are hired on a regular basis.

Il Ngwesi has been very sensitive to the effects of climate change. Sources of income have

shifted from pastoralism to agriculture to reduce the impact of a drought as a result of the

unpredictable rain patterns. Il Ngwesi was also severely affected by the drought of 2008-9 (75%

of buffaloes died as a result), and this has influenced the plan to make the area 100% conserved

Youth are also being targeted to use alternative fuel sources for fires in communities, and to

acquire solar panels as a source of energy, to minimize the rate of deforestation

James Kasoo, Il Ngwesi Group Ranch


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6

Key Activities and Innovations

Ngwesis work has ocused on ensuring the ecological integrity

o its conservation area while delivering tangible economic and

ocial gains or its Maasai members. Conservation strategies have

ncluded employing armed rangers to maintain security within the

onservation area and enorce its prohibitions. Alternative livelihood

ctivities have been encouraged to decrease the Maasais reliance

on livestock and increase household incomes. Inrastructural

projects, alongside health and education programs, have improved

he wellbeing o the group ranchs communities.

Conservation regulations

he by-laws established to protect the ranchs 6,500 hectares o

onserved land include the outlawing o tree-elling, poaching orilling o animals, and starting o res in the conservation area. Il

Ngwesi is not enced, so nine security personnel are employed, and

ave been given training and weapons by the governments reserve

police orce to enorce these by-laws. The security personnel control

he number o local people crossing the conservation area; they

ave also banned pangas (machetes), dogs, and matchboxes rom

being taken into the conservation area.

From pastoralism to agriculture

Conservation has been strengthened by the purchase o land outside

he Il Ngwesi Group Ranch or agriculture: 2,000 acres were acquired

or wheat planting using USD 30,000 rom the UNDP Equator Prize002. Community members have also been encouraged to diversiy

rom livestock to agricultural activities, including the irrigation o

and on the slopes o Mount Kenya. This acet o Il Ngwesis holistic

pproach to land use is complemented by the controlled use o

onservation land or pastoral grazing, and the requent relocation

o the rhino sanctuary to allow the regeneration o depleted grass

nd bushes. Action has been taken to reduce the eects o trodden

paths in the conservation area by planting Rhodesian grasses;

ocal people have also been employed to build gabions along

oadsides to reduce water run-o and topsoil erosion rom hillsides.

nrastructural investments have also been made in constructing

water systems, connecting group ranch communities to rivers u

pipes.

Investments in community wellbeing

This holistic approach to land use management has

underpinned by Il Ngwesis extensive health and education prog

Income generated through tourism has been used in construc

new school classrooms, providing salaries or teachers, and crea

bursaries or children to attend both secondary and ter

education. In 2006, Il Ngwesi instituted an HIV/AIDS program

using unding rom the Institute o Cultural Aairs (ICA) in Can

which provides awareness, testing, counseling, and medical sup

services to local communities. Training people within these villas counsellors and community care workers has been a key

o this work. As o 2010, over 4,000 people had been tested

within Il Ngwesi and outside the group ranch. Construction is

underway on a health clinic, while mobile health services have

delivered to communities in partnership with Lewa Conservanc

National and international recognition

Various strategies have helped to raise Il Ngwesis prole

as an ecotourism destination and as a model or community

conservation in Kenya and East Arica. The our-star eco-lodge

been successully marketed via a website maintained by Il Ng

sta based in the nearby town o Nanyuki. Il Ngwesi was awathe British Airways Best Ecotourism Destination Award in 1

and also won in the Best Small Lodge category at the 2006 G

Responsible Travel Awards. Its high prole has also been boo

by its rhino sanctuary. The conservation area received a single b

rhino in 2002, with assistance rom Lewa Wildlie Conservancy

the approval o Kenya Wildlie Service. Ongoing conservation o

species, along with two white rhino specimens, is testament to

high level o security within the group ranch area. The nine ar

rangers communicate via radio, using a radio channel requ

purchased rom Kenyas Communication Commission.


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7

Impacts

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS Ngwesi was historically home to abundant populations o

everal species, beore poaching in the 1970s and 1980s severely

depleted wildlie numbers. Black rhinos in particular were heavily

ected, while Il Ngwesis importance as an elephant corridor

ttracted poachers rom eastern Kenya and Somalia. The land-use

ystem implemented by the Group Ranch since 1995, however,

has rehabilitated wildlie species numbers, and has made the re-

ntroduction o numbers o black rhinos a genuine possibility.

Much o the conservation work within Il Ngwesi should be seen in

he context o coordinated eorts within Laikipia District as a whole,

nd in the network o community-conserved areas and privateonservancies surrounding Lewa Downs Wildlie Conservancy. This

network is now coordinated by the Northern Rangelands Trust. Il

Ngwesi is a crucial partner in these eorts, and has been a pioneer in

ommunity conservation. Many o its successes are based on having

diversied income sources or its pastoralist communities, as well as

ensuring the security o the conservation area.

Endangered wildlie species conservation

One milestone was in 2002, when an orphaned black rhino was

elocated rom Lewa Conservancy to Il Ngwesi. Such an increase

n the potential carrying capacity or black rhino in the area has

made a direct contribution to the Kenya Wildlie Services national

goal o improving the conservation o this species in Kenya. To

date, however, this one specimen and two white rhinos delivered at

he same time remain the only rhinos in Il Ngwesi. It is still unclear

whether Kenya Wildlie Service will increase this number; ongoing

ecurity eorts have demonstrated that the conservancy has the

potential to protect this species.

Ngwesis eorts have also benetted biodiversity and ecosystems

n surrounding areas. The ranch provides critical security support

o the no-mans land directly north o Lewa Wildlie Conservancy.

This security has signicant implications or the survival oendangered Grevys zebra, which migrate between Lewa and

government-run National Reserves o Samburu, Bualo Springs

Shaba.

Other species numbers are thriving. The conservation area is h

to viable populations o large herbivores such as elephants, gir

impalas, gerenuks, zebras, greater kudus, waterbucks, dik-diks

warthogs. This reects broader improvements in ecosystem qu

in 2002, over twice as many tree and herbaceous plant sp

were counted in the conservancy compared to outside it. Ove

bird species are also testament to a healthier ecosystem, resu

rom decreased dependence on a pastoralist liestyle. Addit

initiatives have included cutting back o acacia trees, oil rom w

contributes to soil acidity, and planting o grasses to rehabi

pathways.

Research has been conducted by various institutions, inclu

Kenya Forest Research Institute, Kenya Wildlie Service, the Unive

o Nairobi, Ministry o Tourism, and private researchers such a

International Centre o Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe),

have looked at the eects o ticks on wildlie and livestock num

Il Ngwesi rangers also assist in monitoring eorts, dividing

conservation area into blocks or occasional species counting.

SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS

Il Ngwesis community development projects are unded

revenues rom ecotourism and seek to increase the wellbeing o

group ranchs communities. Partnerships with international d

organizations are also leveraged or this purpose. 40% o the net p

rom the eco-lodge is reinvested in community development, w

the remaining 60% is used to cover the lodges operational costs

lodge generates approximately nine million Kenyan Shillings

86,500) gross income annually, with the net prot usually ran

between KSh 1.5-2 million (USD 14,400 to USD 19,200.)


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Job creation

The group ranch has been able to create job opportunities primarily

hrough the eco-lodge. The lodge employs teen ull-time sta, with

a urther nine working as conservancy rangers. Temporary positions

are created by ongoing inrastructural projects. These have included

oad maintenance, water systems, and construction o schools and

health clinics.

i. Related sustainable livelihoodsncome generation associated with ecotourism has been seen

hrough the development o artisanal handicrat-making by a

womens group, while Il Ngwesi has also explored the possibility

o purchasing and marketing locally-produced honey or tourists.

n conjunction with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), the Group

Ranch has initiated a our-year programme targeting womens

groups in crat making. The programme trains women in quality

beadwork skills and enables access to micro-credit acilities to allow

hem to purchase raw materials or production. Training has also

been given in leadership and governance, business development,

and identiying markets or their products. Plans are in place to

establish a rural bank in the Il Ngwesi community with assistance

rom K-Rep, a Kenyan bank. Small loans will be made available atow interest rates (around 5%) or uture business development

activities and sustainable enterprises within the community. The

ustainability o both handicrats and honey as income sources

depends on successul marketing, however, or which Il Ngwesi is

eliant on external assistance.

ii. Benefts to livelihoods rom holistic land-use

The group ranch has also been able to boost household incomes

hrough traditional sources. Improved land use management has

had substantial benets or livestock and agriculture. During the

2008-9 droughts, Il Ngwesis livestock were able to graze within

he buer zone portion o the conservancy area. This helped to

ubstantially mitigate the loss o cattle compared to other areas. The

buer zone supplied approximately three months worth o grass or

he herds, with total livestock losses estimated at around 60%; the

communities bordering the conservancy experienced losses around

40%. This compared with livestock losses o up to 90% in other areas

o Kenya. The use o grass reserves in the conservancy is a local

nnovation that could help to oset the eects o unpredictable

weather patterns, and is thereore a valuable strategy or community-

based adaptation to climate change.

The group ranch has also encouraged diversication o income

hrough agricultural projects on the higher slopes o the group

anch. The majority o the Maasai remain pastoralists, but most nowend household plots or agriculture.

v. Investments in education

One area o investment that has yielded substantial socioeconomic

benets is education. 500,000 Kenyan Shillings (almost USD 6,000)

s allocated annually or an educational bursaries scheme, whereby

community youth members are unded to attend secondary school

and universities. This has targeted girls, aiming to reduce the rate

o early marriages in Il Ngwesi communities. The Group Ranch

also benetted local primary schools through the building o ho

or teachers at Sanga Primary School, and sinking a boreho

Enakishomi Primary School. Donor support has been sought to

teachers salaries.

v. Water systems inrastructure

In 2008, with support rom Kansas City Zoo, Reid Park Zoo (

USA) and the Northern Rangelands Trust, the Ngare Ndare pipwas repaired ater being damaged in 2006. This has ensured a w

supply or the lodge and or livestock. This water system has b

extended to schools and communities in 20% o the group r

area through pipes. Communities have also benetted rom

Sanga water project, which was rehabilitated with the suppo

the Lewa Education Trust. In total, seven water systems have b

put in place, carrying water rom river sources to villages.

vi. Health acilities and outreach

Investments in health have come through the building o a he

clinic at Nadungoro, or which Il Ngwesi is in the process o see

approval rom the government to operate. They have also wo

closely with Lewa Conservancy in a mobile health project, ensuthat seven local communities are visited once a week by he

workers.

The greatest impact on the health o local people has come thro

Il Ngwesis Aya II program, however. This project took its

rom the USAID-led, country-wide AIDS, Population, and H

Integrated Assistance (APHIA II) program, and in particular

Family Health International (FHIs) work in Rit Valley provinc

2006, in partnership with Canadas Institute o Cultural Aairs (

Il Ngwesi undertook a baseline survey to assess awareness o

AIDS issues among local communities. These results led to

initiation o a campaign on awareness, testing, and counselin

the disease, as well as on Malaria and Tuberculosis, through tra

community volunteers and outreach events. The target popula

extended beyond Il Ngwesi Group Ranch to a total o thirteen

group ranches; to date, ten o these groups have been reached,

a combined population o approximately 40,000.

The two group ranches initially covered by the program we

Ngwesi and Makurian, with 5,000 targeted or counseling

testing, and 20,000 targeted or increasing prevention aware

in 2007/8. In subsequent years the scope has been expanded,

3,000 targeted or counseling and testing in both 2009 and 2

A University o Toronto study in 2009 is indicative o the prog

that has been made. They ound that over 8,000 tests had bconducted (including repeat tests). The incidence rate was u

5%, while those that had tested positive were receiving

Contraception use was more prevalent, and was cited as a r

o the success o outreach activities. Approximately 70% o t

surveyed had attended at least one HIV/AIDS awareness ses

56% had been tested in Il Ngwesis mobile tent; 80% had receiv

home visit rom a program volunteer; and over 80% had volunte

with the project or knew someone who had.

8


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POLICY IMPACTS

Ngwesi has had an impact on Kenyas wildlie policies through

ts association with Lewa Conservancy, the Northern Rangelands

rust, and its partnership with Kenya Wildlie Service (the owner

nd ounder o Lewas private conservancy, who was instrumental

n encouraging community conservation in Il Ngwesi, served on the

oard o KWS rom 2008-2011.) This relationship initially led to IlNgwesi being granted its black rhino in 2002. The signicance o this

hould not be understated: KWS policy had been that communal

onservancies could not be given endangered rhino specimens due

o security concerns. Ater an assessment o Il Ngwesi, however, it

was deemed a sufciently sae environment. Il Ngwesi can be seen

s a test case or community conservation, thereore.

Since 2002, however, the group ranch has not been awarded a se

individual, as KWS remain unconvinced o the ranchs security

Rhino Sanctuarys sole inhabitant is now an eight year-old m

but has not been given a mate. Il Ngwesi maintain that their ar

rangers guarantee a sufcient level o security. This has ca

rustration on the part o Il Ngwesis wardens, with bureaucracy

policy changes also cited as a reason or the ongoing situation.

Despite this, Il Ngwesi is undoubtedly regarded as a mode

community-based conservation and tourism within Kenya,

has been inuential in advising replication eorts. In particula

governance structure and method o benets distribution

inormed other community conservancies in Kenya and Tanzan

9

Policy decisions should consider the negative and positive impacts for communities. Polic

details must be defined and communities must be educated on their effects. Government dono

should know that communities do not always benefit as they would hope from donations improve

monitoring of their impacts and better systems of governance are needed



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10

Sustainability and Replication

SUSTAINABILITYhe Group Ranch is nancially sustainable, with average annual

evenues rom the eco-lodge o around USD 86,500. This adequately

overs the lodges operational costs, while 40% is invested in

ommunity development projects. The lodge has operated without

xternal unding since 2004. In addition to lodge revenue, a

onservation ee is also payable or entry into the area, at USD 40

er person, per day, while groups o visitors pay USD 300 per night

o stay in the lodges campsites. Associated ecotourism attractions

lso generate revenue or the Group Ranch. The cultural boma (a

raditional Maasai village) promotes indigenous traditions and

Maasai culture. Tourists can visit the village without staying at theodge, with prots going directly to the villagers themselves itsel.

Hiring out conservancy vehicles provides an additional source o

evenue, while womens groups have developed artisanal handicrat-

making to capitalize on ecotourism.

Strategic partnerships and investments

xternal unding is sought where Il Ngwesis own revenues cannot

over its community development projects. International partners

ave also contributed in the orm o technical assistance, or instance

n Il Ngwesis health and enterprise development schemes. FHI and

CA have played key roles in the Aya II program, which is wholly

unded by external sources, while VSO volunteers have given trainingnd marketing advice to the women producing artisanal handicrats.

eachers salaries are paid by Il Ngwesi, the government, and specic

onors. On the other hand, the maintenance o water systems and

ecurity in the conservancy are unded wholly by Il Ngwesi.

A strategy to enhance the long-term nancial autonomy o the

Group Ranch is the purchase o land to build residential property in

he local town o Timau, which will then be leased to generate extra

ncome. This decision was taken by the Group Ranch Committee

with the acquiescence o the Il Ngwesi Community Trust. Pr

rom the eco-lodge that would otherwise have been paid out to

Maasai community member shareholders in the orm o divid

were instead used to purchase the land plot. A nance comm

has been appointed to come up with quotations and seek ext

unding or the construction.

Social and ecological sustainability

Community participation through Il Ngwesis governance stru

is undamental to its long-term sustainability. By giving the g

ranch inhabitants a voice and a vote, the initiative has ensur

strong degree o local ownership. Its tangible socioeconomic imphave also gained it the support o the community. This suppo

not assured, however, and external land acquisitions have also

used to ease pressures within the conservation area. Popula

growth and unpredictable weather patterns have increased ten

over land use or wildlie conservation versus livestock grazing

Group Ranch Committee has thereore proposed relocating

various communities to external sites. 100% o the group r

would then be used or conservation, although there are ears

this could lead to the land being managed by Kenya Wildlie Se

as a government-run conservancy.

The long-term ecological sustainability within the Laikipia Dist

aided by Il Ngwesis relationship with neighbouring conservathrough the Northern Rangelands Trust. I the Maasai popula

are resettled elsewhere in the next ve years, the conserv

will be utilized entirely or wildlie management. Wildlie sp

will be translocated rom Lewa Wildlie Conservancy to b

existing wildlie populations in Il Ngwesi. Increasing the black r

conservation potential o Il Ngwesi is also a major ocus o the u

while discussions are being held with Lewa Wildlie Conserva

Lekurruki Group Ranch, and Borana Ranch to establish a l

combined conservation area between the our properties.


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Biodiversity concerns everyone; it is the responsibility of everyone to take care of the

ecosystems. Everyone must contribute


1111

Challenges to Il Ngwesis sustainability

ompetition with other ecotourism ventures: marketing o Il Ngwesi

will be crucial to this, as will urther improving the road inrastructure.

eaching Il Ngwesi rom the main road rom Isiolo is currently a

hallenge in bad weather.

limate change: rain patterns have changed considerably in recent

ears, and impose hardship on pastoralists that in turn increasesuman pressures on the conservation area.

Ownership o newly-acquired land: questions exist over the

wnership structure or any potential expanded conservation areas

nd residential plots.

ecurity: urther strengthening security operations within the

onservancy could be key to Il Ngwesi receiving more black rhino

ndividuals or other at-risk species, which in turn would improve its

cotourism potential.

REPLICATION

Ngwesi has been used as a model or community conserved

reas in Kenya, as well as in Tanzania, Uganda and Southern Sudan.

Exchange visits have been hosted at Il Ngwesi, while elders ro

Ngwesi have also been invited by Kenya Wildlie Service to s

lessons on governance processes with other communities. M

o the replication o Il Ngwesis model has taken place locally,

as the establishment and development o Naibunga Conserva

which covers over 17,000 hectares, while Shompole Commu

Trust, rom near Magadi in southern Kenya, has also replicat

Ngwesis eco-lodge model.

PARTNERS

Lewa Wildlie Conservancy

Northern Rangelands Trust

Laikipia Wildlie Forum

Arica Wildlie Foundation

Kenya Wildlie Service

University o Nairobi

Kenya Forestry Research Institute

Voluntary Service Overseas (two ull-time volunteers or

next two years to cover range o activities)

Borana Ranch

Family Health International


12/12

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Equator Initiative

Environment and Energy GroupUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

304 East 45th Street, 6th Floor

New York, NY 10017

Tel: +1 646 781-4023

www.equatorinitiative.org

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNs global development network, advocating or change

onnecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better lie.

The Equator Initiative brings together the United Nations, governments, civil society, businesses and grassroots organizati

o recognize and advance local sustainable development solutions or people, nature and resilient communities.

2012 by Equator Initiative

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FURTHER REFERENCE

Il Ngwesi Group Ranch website: ilngwesi.com

Il Ngwesi Group Ranch PhotoStory (Vimeo) vimeo.com/27016070 (English) vimeo.com/15750010 (Swahili)
http://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348161880.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348260928.pdfhttp://www.equatorinitiative.org/images/stories/com_winners/casestudy/case_1348161612.pdf

case studies undp: il ngwesi group ranch, kenya

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