IDN Mission in Tanzania: Empowering Local Assets

In 2025,  IDN Norway made a strategic decission to deepen our global footprint by investing time and capital in Tanzania and the region of EastAfrica and become a part of the Norwegian development aid ecosystem, funding projects with tangible, ground-level results.

 Based on that commitment, we established IDN Africa, as an NGO registered on Tanzanian law (www.id-norway.com/idnafrica)  with the mission to empower communities in Tanzania and across the continent through innovation, capacity building, and sustainable development initiatives. Currently, the flagship initiative that our Tanzanian team, led by Immaculate Komba and Jonathan Kiffunda, is working on is The Juncao Cultivation/Multiplication for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development (J-CRISD. The project is a high-impact, 12-month initiative designed to bulletproof the livelihoods of livestock keepers in Tanzania’s semi-arid Chamwino District.

The Juncao Cultivation/Multiplication for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development (J-CRISD.

Funded by IDN Norway, supported by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and Chamwino District of Tanzania and implemented by IDN Africa,  this project utilizes “Juncao”—a drought-resistant, high-protein nature-based technology—to solve the twin crises of environmental degradation and fodder scarcity. By empowering 20 Champion Farmers to act as decentralized seed banks, J-CRISD is building a self-sustaining, climate-smart livestock ecosystem that reduces community conflict and secures household incomes.

In the Chamwino District of Dodoma, livestock keepers are facing an increasingly difficult environment. Periodic heatwaves and unpredictable rainfall patterns have degraded natural grazing lands, leaving many areas unable to support traditional grazing. This ecological shift has created a cycle of livestock malnutrition, where low milk yields and poor meat quality directly impact household income.

The lack of reliable fodder has broader social consequences. To find water and feed, pastoralists are often forced into long-distance migrations. These movements frequently lead to resource-based conflicts with local farming communities as both groups compete for a shrinking supply of land and water. For those who remain stationary, the only alternative has been to purchase commercial feeds. However, the high cost of these supplements often exceeds the profit margins of small-scale farmers, making traditional livestock keeping financially unsustainable. Without a local, climate-smart solution for feed production, the community remains vulnerable to every seasonal drought.

The Solution: A Decentralized Model for Feed Security

The J-CRISD project addresses these challenges by introducing Juncao technology through an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) framework. Rather than relying on external inputs, the project identifies and utilizes existing local resources—specifically land, water, and the expertise of 20 “Champion Farmers” across five divisions.

The Multiplier Effect The project is built on a 1:8 scaling logic designed to create a rapid, local supply of fodder:

• Phase 1 (Foundation): Each of the 20 Champion Farmers establishes a 0.25-acre “mother plot” using foundation Juncao stock. These plots serve as both nursery sites and demonstration centers.

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• Phase 2 (Scaling): Within six months, the high multiplication rate of Juncao allows for the distribution of cuttings to 160 secondary farmers. This move expands the total coverage to 45 acres of sustainable forage.

• Phase 3 (Sustainability): To ensure feed is available year-round, farmers receive training in silage management and preservation. This allows them to store surplus feed for use during the peak of the dry season.

By localizing seed production and feed management, the project reduces the community’s dependence on commercial markets and migratory grazing. This shift not only stabilizes livestock productivity but also minimizes the grounds for conflict over communal land.  The project has been launched in January 2025 and it is in the first implementation phase.