October 16^th marked World Food Day, and it was also the same day that Action Aid officially launched the ‘Let’s Talk Land Tanzania’ online portal.  This portal provides a platform for CSOs, community members and others to share and access information about land issues across Tanzania. TNRF, together with other members and partners, were present for the launch. The launch not only brought together practitioners and partners, but it also provided a space for community members to testify about land grabbing cases they have encountered in their areas (Kilwa, Kisarawe and Kiharaka).The guest of honor informed the participants, "When we talk of food matters we talk about land. We need to work together and it is our responsibility to organize ourselves at different levels".

Go here to see what Tanzania is talking about…

The Donor Partner Group on the Environment works closely with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism to host an annual sector review. Last year was the first time civil society was invited to participate, and TNRF and WWF were invited as the representatives. This year, TNRF was not only invited again, but this time, we have been given the opportunity to share CS perspectives on the state of CBNRM in Tanzania. Go here to view the presentation.

Participatory land use planning in Tanzanian drylands is an essential process in ensuring effective, sustainable and fair use of communal lands.  And experts are agreeing that collecting best practices, enhancing information exchange and learning from the ground are focal strategies that will improve and strengthen natural resource use in Tanzanian drylands. 

Over the last two days at a workshop in Arusha, officials from the Ministries of Land, fisheries and Livestock Development and the National Land Use Planning Commission joined with civil society organizations, land use planning experts and community representatives to discuss land use planning.  The workshop focused on strategies that will strengthen lesson learning and policy dialogue to support the development of appropriate policy recommendations and guidelines for improved land use planning and rangeland management both at local and national levels.

Discrimination and violence against girls and violations of their human rights remains an ongoing challenge in the world today. In an effort to raise awareness about such challenges, in December 2011 the United Nations declared that October 11th would serve as the annual ‘International Day of the Girl Child.’  TNRF would like to observe this day by celebrating the work of some of our partners who help bring attention to these challenges and provide opportunities to strengthen women’s rights, especially in the natural resource sector.  One example of this kind of work is that of the Pastoral Womens’ Council, which provides educational opportunities for girls, promotes women’s involvement on community natural resource committees as well as promotes women’s rights to own and manage land.

Learn more about the International Day of the Girl Child here.