CORDS stands for Community Research and Development Services. It was established to address some of the challenges that the pastoral communities face in the region. It is a voluntary organisation, which is registered in Tanzania under the societies ordinance of 1954, with the certificate of registration no. 9398. CORDS is also incorporated under the Trustees Incorporation Ordinance (Cap 375). It works in the Districts of Kiteto, Monduli, Ngorongoro and Simanjiro.

Its work focuses on the fundamental issues, approaches, challenges and changes that are needed to ensure the achievement of sustainable pastoral development, and curb the trend of further marginalization and impoverishment of pastoralists.

CORDS aims at improving the quality of development work in the region.