Location: Kilosa District, Morogoro, Tanzania
Partners: Implemented by Kilimo Smart Initiative, supported by Climate-KIC and Irish Aid.
The Challenge
Kilosa District is on the frontline of the climate crisis in Tanzania. Rising temperatures and unpredictable rains have led to severe rangeland degradation, the loss of over 625,000 cattle, and escalating resource-based conflicts. Historically, pastoralist youth especially young women have been excluded from the decision-making processes that determine their future.
Our Solution
The PYCARR project is a locally led initiative that shifts youth from being victims of climate change to becoming leaders of adaptation. Supported by Climate-KIC and Irish Aid, Kilimo Smart Initiative empowers 450 pastoralist youth (60% women) across seven wards to restore their environment and secure their livelihoods. Our model is unique: it blends traditional ecological knowledge from Maasai and Barabaig elders with modern climate science.
Key Pillars of Action
- Inclusive Climate Governance: We established the 21-member Youth Pastoral Council, creating a formal, permanent platform for youth to influence climate policy within the Kilosa District Council.
- Ecological Restoration: Youth lead the management of 7 Demonstration Grazing Plots, practicing rotational grazing and clearing invasive species to restore the natural health and grazing capacity of our rangelands.
- Economic Resilience: To diversify income away from climate-vulnerable livestock, we support the launch of 5 youth-led cooperatives focused on beekeeping, fodder production, and drought-resistant agriculture.
- Digital Innovation: We bridge the information gap through an SMS-based early warning system, providing real-time climate alerts and weather data to help families protect their assets from extreme weather events.
Our Impact
By May 2026, the PYCARR project will build the climate resilience of over 6,000 community members. Through the generous support of Irish Aid and the strategic guidance of Climate-KIC, Kilimo Smart Initiative is building a self-perpetuating ecosystem where youth leadership ensures a greener, more stable, and more prosperous future for the pastoralist communities of Kilosa.
Kilimo Smart Initiative is proud to be part of the Youth in Climate cohort, working alongside international partners to drive locally-led climate action in Tanzania.
No responses yet