The Pastoralist Alliance for Resilience and Adaptations Across Nations (PARAAN) was formed in 2018 as a social justice movement with the purpose of consolidating a collective voice on the inclusion and rights of indigenous peoples to promote self-action for the mutual benefit and well-being of indigenous peoples and minorities.
As stewards of their land, indigenous peoples and minority groups in Northern Kenya and across the region have sustainably governed natural resources for generations in ways that are compatible with their food systems, cultures, and social organizations.
However, in recent years, landscapes within the region that had been historically used and managed by indigenous peoples and minorities have come under unprecedented external pressures, like mega-infrastructure projects and large-scale investments that are seriously affecting the unique rights of indigenous peoples and, by extension, their food and livelihood sovereignty. These new pressures on land and resources, coupled with lasting marginalization rooted in colonial rule, have rendered pastoralism and other indigenous livelihoods systems less resilient and highly susceptible to climate change and its related shocks.
In addition to the loss of land and natural resources, there has also been a loss of traditional practices and lifestyles, including losses of inter-generational transfers of traditional knowledge, losses of social organization, losses of traditional institutions, and losses cultural and spiritual practices – all of which contribute to perpetuating the structural inequalities that work to the disadvantage of indigenous peoples and minorities.
Addressing the above challenges requires dedicated efforts, and multi-pronged approaches based on a combination of skillsets that is difficult to have within a single organization. These complexities also require teamwork and joint approaches for improved effectiveness. This was the reason behind the formation of PARAAN as an Alliance so that members can design pathways to address challenges and build a voice around issues.
The formation of PARAAN was initiated by five (5) indigenous founding organizations, which were namely: (1) Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation (IMPACT), (2) Kivulini Trust (KT), (3) Samburu Women Trust (SWT), (4) Waso Trust Land (WTL) and (5) Indigenous Strategies and Institution for Development (ISID).
PARAAN members aim to work together in a coordinated approach, learn and overtime, generate a sustained flow of collective and individual actions, activities and lasting positive impact.
To realize its aspirations, PARAAN incorporated some approaches namely Building of Social Movements, Fund Raising and Capacity Building of the Alliance/its members as Thematic Program Pillars. These was designed in a way that, once successfully built and attained, these pillars will enable the alliance to easily achieve the desired objectives of the other remaining pillars.
Further to this, the Alliance members were re-grouped into six Thematic Pillar Working Groups to work together in a coordinated approach, learn and, over time, generate a sustained flow of collective and individual actions, activities, and lasting positive impact.
Pillar Objective:
To catalyze and amplify collective indigenous peoples’ and minorities’ voices in all decision-making processes that affect their wellbeing
1. GWG
2. MWADO
3. IWIFA
4. IGW
5. MGEP
6. TNDP
7. IPsCCW
8. SANGIDA
9. LAPO
10. ISID
11. IWGI
12. PPI
13. PHWE
14. REGAL
15. AJF
16. EJTS
Pillar Objective:
1. IPCCW
2. EJTS
3. ICT
4. PWHE
5. REPAL
6. EWC
7. GWG
8. MWADO
9. LD
10. KT
11. KARMO
12. IWGI
13. CEDI
14. LEARN Waso
15. GWYO
16. IJF
17. CRDD
18. RPPL
Pillar Objective:
To build a robust movement of indigenous peoples and minorities that manifests solidarity, synergy, strength and cultural revitalization through collective amplified voice and actions.
1. LEARN – WASO
2. BWYO
3. NWG
4. IMPACT
5. EIWEN
6. TNDP
7. ICT
8. LANCCI
Pillar Objective:
To identify and harness opportunities for collective and individual resource mobilization to support the alliance and member organization programs and for sustainability.
1. ISID
2. PHWE
3. REPAL
4. MEHPI
5. IWIFA
6. IMPACT
7. SWT
Pillar Objective:
1. NWG
2. LD
3. MEHPI
4. MGEP
5. BWYO
6. ISID
7. REPAL
8. AJF
9. SANGIDA
10. CEDI
Pillar Objective:
1. KT
2. IMPACT
3. LANCCI
4. CRDD
5. EIWEN
6. PPI
7. LAPO
