Location & context
Longido District lies in northern Tanzania, bordering Kenya. It is home to pastoralist Maasai communities who live with some of the toughest environmental challenges in East Africa. The land is rocky and semi-arid, with minimal rainfall and few reliable water sources. Women often walk up to 20 km each day to fetch water from a single sand dam - water that is contaminated with fluoride and unsafe for drinking.
Poverty, harmful traditional practices, and limited access to healthcare, education, and alternative livelihoods compound the effects of climate stress. Yet this is also a community with strong leadership, cultural identity, and a deep desire for change.
In partnership with Mulika Afrika, PFP is launching a pilot programme in 2025–26 to improve health, education, and livelihoods for women and children in Longido, while laying the groundwork for a long-term water security initiative from 2026 onwards.
Key needs and challenges identified in our community consultation include:
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Severe water scarcity and fluoride contamination causing chronic health issues.
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Maternal and child health risks due to reliance on traditional birth attendants.
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Girls’ education gaps, with the nearest government school 7 km away.
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Women’s economic vulnerability, leading to charcoal burning and environmental degradation.
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Cultural barriers sustaining FGM, early marriage, and low female participation in leadership.
Partners & approach
Mulika Afrika is a locally registered non-profit with strong community roots, led by Paul Ole Leitura, working to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), early marriage, and gender-based violence while advancing access to education, healthcare, and sustainable livelihoods for Maasai communities.
PFP and Mulika Afrika share a vision of empowering rural Maasai communities through a holistic, community-led model that integrates:
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Health and social advocacy: training Community Health Workers (CHWs) and expanding outreach on maternal health, family planning, and gender rights.
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Women’s economic empowerment: supporting goat and poultry farming, savings groups, and financial literacy.
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Education: strengthening Mulika Afrika’s community school in Engikaret and improving infrastructure.
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Sustainable water access: developing a long-term plan for safe, fluoride-free water solutions by 2027.
Funding partners & sponsors
Our work so far has been funded from PFP reserves and we are actively seeking funds to get this project off the ground.
What we have delivered
Our partnership began with a joint scoping visit and community consultations in December 2024, jointly led by Power for the People and Mulika Afrika, to understand local priorities and co-design the pilot programme.
The visit included:
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Meetings with Mulika Afrika’s leadership and field team in Arusha and Longido.
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Community discussions with Naiboswa Women’s Group, Community Health Workers, school staff, and village leaders in Engikaret and Ololosokwan.
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Consultations with local health personnel at the Ololosokwan dispensary.
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A review of environmental and social conditions, identifying water access, women’s livelihoods, and maternal health as the most pressing needs.
The findings directly informed the 2025–26 Integrated Community Health and Women’s Economic Empowerment Pilot, which will:
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Train 40 CHWs on reproductive health, FGM, and maternal care.
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Support women’s economic empowerment with goat and poultry farming for income generation.
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Establish Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and link them to markets.
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Deliver community education on gender equality and social change.
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Prepare a proposal for the 2026 water pilot, integrating fluoride treatment and rainwater harvesting options.
These plans have been developed collaboratively with Mulika Afrika, local leaders, and community groups, ensuring that the programme responds to real needs and is fully owned by the people of Longido.
Impact highlights
Two districts engaged
Longido and Ngorongoro (Ololosokwan).
Extensive community consultation
with over 200 women and 500 children represented.
Health and education priorities
identified through participatory workshops.
Strong local partner capacity confirmed
Mulika Afrika employs 16 community health workers and 6 programme staff.
Pilot plan co-created
and ready for implementation pending funding.
Challenges & learning points
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Access to safe water remains the community’s top concern and the cornerstone of long-term development.
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Women’s time burden for water collection and childcare limits their economic participation.
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Transport to remote villages such as Ololosokwan poses logistical challenges for outreach.
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Engagement of men in community awareness work will be critical to address cultural barriers to change.
Future plans & sustainability
Phase 1 (2026): Pilot Programme
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Launch Integrated Community Health and Women’s Empowerment Pilot in Engikaret and Endemwa villages.
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Establish goat and poultry-based income generation.
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Train 40 Community Health Workers and build stronger referral links to local health facilities.
Phase 2 (2027): Water Security
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Conduct technical and feasibility assessments for sustainable water infrastructure, including solarised borehole, rainwater harvesting, or surface dam.
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Pilot fluoride treatment and community-led water management systems.
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Integrate WASH education and environmental stewardship across project activities.
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Establish a long-term community-managed water fund to sustain operations.
Phase 3 (2027+): Scale-Up
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Strengthen Mulika Afrika’s community school and expand health education.
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Expand women’s savings and enterprise groups to 10 across the district.
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Extend school grades and introduce vocational skills for youth.
