Livelihood Challenges (Vulnerability) Among the Datoga Pastoralists in Basutu and Basodesh Ward (Tanzania)

Abstract

This thesis is about pastoralist’s risks to their livelihoods under scenarios of expected climate changes and non-climate change in resource tenure. The study aimed at exploring the livelihood challenge facing by Datoga pastoralists and potential for livelihood improvement. The study also examined at the current and the future situation of pastoralists in regard with the current policies. The study used mixed method research in data collections framed within the subject of sustainable livelihood framework for analyzing multifaceted relationships that exit between assets, livelihood strategies and outcome.The study found out that pastoralist are confronted by many livelihood risks such as lack of access to resources that are needed for their sustainability of their livelihood such as poor market conditions, lack of health services, and limited access to safe and clean water. Land has been the scarcest resource because investors and farmers own the huge part of village land. Conflicts between pastoralist and other land users are common, although the magnitude might not be so alarming as often claimed. Much of pastoralists’ problems of land use could be addressed by improved policies. The problem remains that there are no specific policies to promote pastoralism, while encouraging livestock keeping as commercial ranches. This thesis concludes that the continuated marginalization and deprivation of the Datoga pastoralists was a result of lack of appreciation and acknowledgement of the pastoralism sector to the economy by the government. Pastoralists were denied all essential services for improvement of their livelihood.