The lives of the pastoralist Maasai depend on the quality and quantity of their livestock and its products, which in turn are dependent on the availability of pasture, water and livestock health. Since the colonial period, most of what used to be Maasai land has been lost to large-scale farming or tourism. The little land they have retained is often too dry and infertile to adequately support their traditional ways of life and this has brought poverty to the majority of the Maasai. The Maasai, once noble warriors, rich in cattle are now one of the most marginalised and poverty-impacted groups in East Africa.

Historically ‘development’ has had a tendency to be imposed on rural African communities like Longido. LOOCIP’s approach is different. It is a community-based organisation, operating within the community for the community and empowering the people of Longido to be the agents of their own socio-economic change. Whilst international partnerships continue to provide much needed resources, the activities themselves are initiated, owned and driven by the local community.

LOOCIP is a community-based organization (CBO) officially registered by the government under license number SO 12500 with a mandate to work in Longido District. We operate from a centre originally established by World Vision called the LOOCIP Centre. The centre contains an office complex with 6 offices, a library, and a meeting room, a meeting hall, store, four staff houses, a hostel and a rest house.