'Partnership' is the new keyword in donor-community circles, and multilateral organizations and national departments responsible for development cooperation both seem to have embraced the conccept... Show more'Partnership' is the new keyword in donor-community circles, and multilateral organizations and national departments responsible for development cooperation both seem to have embraced the conccept of 'public-private partneships'. This paper is the first in a series that examines partnerships in ecotourism initiatives in the Maasai region of Kenya, i.e. Kajiado, Narok and Trans Mara Districts. A discussion of the partnership concept is followed by a brief introduction to wildlife-based tourism in Kajiado District. Subsequently, two public-private partnerships - the Kimana and Selengei group ranches - are presented. A detailed analysis of the origins and development of these wildlife-based ecotourism projects tries to answer the main research question about the extent to which these partnerships are genuinely community-based and potentially successful alternatives for livestock-keeping communities. [Book abstract] Show less
