ERETO Solidarity Fund – Supporting Indigenous Pastoralist Communities in East Africa

The ERETO Solidarity Fund empowers indigenous organizations in East Africa to champion land rights and community development

We are a collaborative initiative by Indigenous organizations in East Africa, aimed at supporting Indigenous and Local Communities by embracing their Traditional Knowledge and governance systems.

Watch our recent interview with UN Swahili Media at UNPFII’s 24th session, where our Coordinator speaks about the Fund and its mission in the East Africa region.

OUR FOCUS AREAS

How We Champion Indigenous Rights: Land, Governance and Conservation

Land, Environment and Climate Environmental Injustice

Address environmental injustices by advocating for equitable land management and resource allocation, including land restitution. Support initiatives that mitigate the disproportionate impacts of climate change on Indigenous communities.

Indigenous Conservation-Led and Community-Led Conservation

Promote conservation efforts driven by Indigenous knowledge and practices. Empower local communities to lead and implement sustainable environmental protection strategies.

Strengthening Traditional Governance Systems

Reinforce traditional governance structures that uphold Indigenous cultural values and practices. Support the integration of these systems into contemporary decision-making processes.

Indigenous Nations Building and Indigenous-Owned Investments

Support the development of Indigenous nations through investments led and owned by Indigenous communities. Promote economic self-sufficiency and sovereignty through strategic investments and initiatives.

Indigenous Intergenerational Leadership, Research and Knowledge Building

Foster intergenerational leadership by supporting Indigenous-led research and knowledge sharing. Strengthen the transmission of cultural and environmental knowledge across generations, including the establishment of Indigenous academies in the region.

Cross-Border Linkages and Borderless Approach

Facilitate cross-border collaboration to tackle shared environmental and social challenges among communities divided by colonial borders. Promote a borderless approach to enhance regional partnerships and mutual support.

BACKGROUND

Honouring indigenous land, empowering communities and restoring balance to ancestral rights and livelihoods

Supporting Indigenous conceptions of land means respecting their Traditional Knowledge, cultures, and governance systems, while recognizing land’s vital role in their survival. Despite this, Indigenous Peoples face challenges from harmful global policies, including land rights violations and environmental degradation. To advance social justice, Indigenous communities must lead philanthropic efforts, a concept known as “Indigenizing philanthropy,” which values their expertise in decision-making and implementation.

ABOUT THE FUND

Supporting Indigenous Solidarity and Self-Determination

Indigenous organizations in East Africa, including The Pastoralists Indigenous Non-Governmental Organization’s Forum (PINGOS), Traditional Ecosystems Survival Tanzania (TEST), Ujamaa Community Resource Team (UCRT), Pastoralist Women Council (PWC), and Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation (IMPACT), have launched the ERETO Fund, with “Ereto” meaning solidarity in the Maasai language. This initiative is specifically designed to support Indigenous and Local Communities (IP&LC) in East Africa by embracing Traditional Knowledge, cultural and spiritual wisdom, traditional governance systems, and language, while fostering self-determination and acknowledging the crucial role of land in the survival and well-being of both the land and its people.

OUR APPROACH

Participatory Grant-making

The ERETO Fund empowers Indigenous communities by providing grants based on principles of movement building, trust, relationship building, reciprocity and respect. The key features of this approach are:

Community-led Decision-making

Communities actively participate in the entire grant making process, from co-creating the fund’s objectives to selecting fiscal sponsors who manage the funds. Community leaders play a pivotal role in guiding these processes, ensuring that the fund’s resources are allocated in line with the communities’ priorities and needs. This participatory model fosters a sense of ownership and accountability, as the communities themselves make the key decisions, rather than external local organizations. This approach not only respects the autonomy of the communities but also ensures that the solutions are relevant and sustainable, as they are rooted in local knowledge and experience.

Collaborative and Adaptive Funding

Provide adaptive funding tailored to the specific needs of each community, ensuring resources are directed where they are most needed. Engage Indigenous leaders, who naturally guide their communities, to work alongside community members throughout the grant process, offering support and guidance without time constraints. This collaborative approach ensures the grant process remains flexible and responsive to the communities’ evolving needs.

Simplified Administrative Processes

Streamline the application process to ease administrative burdens on communities. Offer application forms in multiple Indigenous languages. Replace traditional reporting with joint learning sessions among grantees, with donors and other stakeholders invited to join upon community consent.

Supporting Individual Defenders: A Critical but Often Overlooked Need

Focusing on support for individual defenders who are at the forefront of justice and community protection—often targeted by the state with harassment and threats—is essential. This support should cover mental and emotional well-being, immediate financial needs for their families, and safety concerns, including legal assistance. Providing such support is not just an act of philanthropy but a vital commitment to upholding human rights and safeguarding those who champion these causes.

Healing and Well-being as a Process within Grant Making

Healing and well-being are central to the grant making process, acknowledging that addressing systemic issues in pastoralist communities requires more than financial support. The fund emphasizes the mental, emotional, and physical health of individuals, especially human rights defenders, integrating traditional knowledge, stories, and Indigenous languages into its approach and funding practices.

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Join Us

Support the ERETO Solidarity Fund as we work with Indigenous communities in East Africa to deeply indigenize our approaches and build a future rooted in equity and cultural wisdom. Together, we can cultivate a more just and sustainable world.