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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.pdf7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: IL NGWESI GROUP RANCH, Kenya
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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
3
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
James Kasoo, Il Ngwesi Group Ranch
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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
James Kasoo, Il Ngwesi Group Ranch
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
7/27/2019 Case Studies UNDP: IL NGWESI GROUP RANCH, Kenya
12/12
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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