PROJECT EVALUATION SUMMARY : MASAI LIVESTOCK AND RANGE DEVELOPMENT

PROJECT DESIGNED TO INTEGRATE NOMADIC MASAI PEOPLE MORE FULLY INTO THE NATIONAL ECONOMY THROUGH EXTENSION OF INTEGRATED LIVESTOCK PROGRAMS TO RANCHING ASSOCIATIONS. PURPOSE REVISED 1976 TO INCLUDE FOCUS ON MASAI SOCIAL DLVP & INTEGRATION. EVAL OFFICER NOTES THAT TANZANIAN GOVT (GOT) POLICY TO INDUCE INHABITANTS INTO VILLAGE UNITS (VILLAGINIZATION) HAS RENDERED PROJECT FOCUS ON RANCHING ASSOCIATIONS OBSOLETE; SINCE THE KEY PROJECT OUTPUTS REVOLVE AROUND PREPARATION OF RANGE & LIVESTOCK MGMT PLANS FOR SUCH ASSOCIATIONS, SUCH OUTPUTS WILL NOT LIKELY BE REACHED. PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE GOALS ARE BEING ACHEIVED -- WATER DVLP, BULL DISTRIBUTION, HEALTH COMPONENTS -- BUT THE REQUISITE INSTITUTIONAL DVLP TO MAKE THEM FULLY OPERATIONAL IS LAGGING. THOUGH PROJECT DESIGN IS TIED TO RANCH ASSOCIATIONS, MANY QUANTITATIVE OUTPUTS COULD BE ADAPTED TO OTHER FUNCTIONAL UNITS. PRIOR TO PROJECT PHASE-OUT IN 1-1/2 YRS,EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON IMPLEMENTATION OF WELL-FOUNDED AND DETAILED RANGE MGMT PLANS IN 3 SELECTED PRIORITY GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS,AND PREPARATION OF MATERIALS TO SERVE AS GUIDES FOR UNITS ONCE PROJECT TERMINATES. USAID INTENDS INCORPORATION OF MASAILAND DISTRICT PLANNING INTO PRIMARY PHASE OF PROPOSED ARUSHA REGION VILLAGE DVLP PROJECT. PROJECT TEAM NOW AT FULL STRENGTH WITH INCORPORATION OF TANZANIANS IN KEY MGMT ROLES. A RECENTLY COMPLETED RURAL TRAINING CENTER IS NOT YET OPERATIONAL. SEVERAL PARTICIPANT TRAINEES HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED ELSEWHERE. COMPREHENSIVE DATA ON ANIMAL CENSUS & LIVESTOCK MARKETING IS STILL LACKING. PROJECT EQUIPMENT AND EVEN PROJECT FUNDS HAVE BEEN DIVERTED INTO OTHER DISTRICT-LEVEL PROGRAMS DUE TO UNAVAILABILITY OF OTHER RESOURCES. SOCIOLOGICAL HINDSIGHT DEMONSTRATES THE INADEQUACY OF PROJECT DESIGN: MASAI ARE SUCCESSFUL HERDERS,COMPARABLY MORE WEALTHY THAN CROP-PRODUCING NEIGHBORS;NEVERTHELESS,PROJECT CAN STILL DELIVER TECHNOLOGY,SERVICES,AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP IMPROVE THE MASAI"S HUSBANDRY PRACTICES.