Frame agreement with NGO (Siemenpuu)

General

Several things happened in Kenya in the last few months in relation to the national policy. What does all this mean for the Ogiek, Sengwer and other forest communities in Kenya? Are they organizing effectively to maximize these opportunities to their adva ntage? Are they speaking with one voice? The project will involve 5 community sensitization workshops and a forest dwellers hunter-gatherer representatives meeting to develop a common advocacy strategy on the above issues with the objective of strengthenin g their land rights and natural resource rights. These communities came together in January 2014 to form the Forest Indigenous Peoples Network (FIPN is currently hosted by CIPDP while it is in the process of registering as an NGO). The meeting recognized t hat its first task was to consult with forest communities through sensitization and consultation workshops which would involve both informing communities of the opportunities and challenges at the national and international levels, and understanding their opportunities and challenges in each of their contexts. The most important objective of the project is to ensure greater security for hunter-gatherer community forest land rights through influencing national law and policy frameworks. The project will al so support forest dwelling hunter-gatherers to arrive at a common strategy, as well as sensitizing communities on various laws and policies that will impact them. www.chepkitale.org