The AniTerrAE project (Animals in Territories for Agroecology: Contribution of differentiation approaches to sustainable and resilient food systems), funded by the Federal Office for Agriculture of Switzerland (FOAG), is being implemented in eight countries, including Kenya. In Southern Kenya, the Maasai Integrated Development Initiative (MIDI) and FAO collaborated to apply the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) to measure the multi-dimensional performance of Maasai households across different dimensions of sustainability.

TAPE's general objective is to produce evidence on the performance of production systems across the environmental, social, cultural, economic, nutrition, and governance dimensions of sustainability to support agroecological transitions. TAPE has a stepwise approach that begins with describing the context and production systems (Step 0). Step 1 is the characterization of agroecological transitions, which assesses the current status of agroecological transition based on FAO's 10 Elements of Agroecology. Step 2 evaluates the multi-dimensional performance using core criteria linked to SDG indicators. Steps 0, 1, and 2 can be completed on an online survey form, with farms or households as the measurement units. The results are then analyzed and interpreted participatively in Step 3.

This particular application of TAPE in southern Kenya compared the Oldonyonokie/Olkeri Maasai Pastoralist Heritage System (recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System- GIAHS) with other Maasai grazing their livestock outside the GIAHS site.

After data collection (Steps 0, 1, and 2), Step 3 was a participatory process to validate and contextualize the results of Steps 0, 1, and 2 with community members, local area chiefs, and representatives of the communities involved in this study. The primary objectives  of the workshop on Step 3 were:

1. To validate the analysis of TAPE Steps 0, 1, and 2, including sampling and upscaling from farm to territory, and identify synergies and trade-offs;
2. To gather community views and feedback on the use of TAPE;
3. To discuss key thematic topics such as resilience and drought management, the future and inclusion of women and youth, the GIAHS site, and governance (enabling environment).

Besides data validation, the discussions on the key thematic topics provided rich discussions on the ongoing concerns and livelihood of the Maasai pastoralist community. The area has four group ranches: Olkeri and Oldonyonokie, on a GIAHS recognized site, and Shompole and Olkiramatian, on the other end, close to the Tanzanian border.

Discussions during the workshop, day 2, with Maasai community members. @PhilipKoyei

 Transformation of Pastoralism: The pastoralist system is evolving, with a notable shift towards sedentary and semi-nomadic lifestyles. This change is driven more by the changing economic and lifestyle factors rather than by climate change, though the latter is now a growing concern. Community members noted that the vegetation has significantly altered since the 1980s, and they are beginning to feel the impacts of climate change. A participant mentioned, "We are feeling the effects of climate change now more than ever." Participants discussed the difficulties in recovering from frequent droughts and maintaining mobility. They expressed a preference for staying in one place to minimize uncertainty and losses. One participant stated, "We prefer to have our losses here rather than moving with uncertainty."

Women's Perspectives: Women expressed a preference for a sedentary lifestyle, highlighting the burdens of moving entire families and the desire to send their children to school and establish businesses. They mentioned that settling allows them to save money in women's groups, engage in crop farming and dairy production, and create better relationships with their neighbors, which enhances community decision-making and social support. Despite these advantages, women inside the GIAHS site reported feeling excluded from decision-making and lacking control over assets. They expressed a desire for more young women to participate in community meetings. In contrast, women outside the GIAHS site felt more empowered due to their involvement in income-generating activities and managing assets like goats and poultry. This empowerment has a positive impact on the productivity of the system, as a greater presence of women leads to better outcomes. This is evident in leadership positions that allow them to have direct control over household and productive systems.

Diverse Environmental Conditions: The Olkeri and Oldonyonokie ranches focus more on livestock production due to their rocky terrain. In contrast, the Olkiramatian and Shompole ones benefit from a permanent river, allowing crop farming and livestock production. These latter grazing areas also have more business opportunities due to their proximity to the Tanzania border and a higher number of tourists despite Olkeri and Oldonyonokie being on a GIAHS site. "We have a large market in Shompole, while the other areas have to travel 15 km to access the market," a participant noted.

Governance and By-laws: The group ranches have established by-laws and grazing patterns, with the Shompole having detailed land use and restoration plans. These by-laws align with the Kenya Community Land Act and have provisions for internal conflict resolution mechanisms.

The workshop raised critical questions about the future of pastoralism, mobility, and governance for the community. How can advocacy efforts focus more on highlighting the current trends within the community? How can agroecological practices be better integrated into their evolving lifestyle? How can we support these changing pastoralism livelihoods into what they are now? These discussions will guide future actions and policies to support the Maasai community in adapting to their changing environment.

By engaging in these participatory workshops, the communities can better understand their systems and contribute to developing sustainable and resilient agroecological practices. Ongoing dialogues are crucial for ensuring that the voices of the Maasai people are heard and that their traditional knowledge and practices are preserved and enhanced in the face of modern challenges.