Our Projects

Our Projects

Usimamizi Endelevu Wa Maliasili Activity:

Usimamizi Endelevu Wa Maliasili Activity is a multi-sectoral five-year intervention implemented by Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) together with one Rukwa Sustainable Development Organization (RUSUDEO). The intervention is designed to tackle threats on biodiversity through the use of multiple natural resources governance tools. In particular, the project intends to conserve land, wildlife, forests, and water resources on one hand and build the resilience of local communities and ecosystems in Rukwa through improved natural resources governance on the other.

LEAT envisions for communities in Lyamba lya Mfipa in both Nkasi and Sumbawanga districts, Rukwa region, with: increased knowledge and skills on management and governance of public resources; effective natural resources governance frameworks; ability to willingly participate in natural resources management and the adoption climate change risk-reducing practices; eagerness to question and demand accountability from duty bearers and institutions with the mandate to manage natural resource, leading to equitable benefit sharing, stronger governance systems, reduced conflict over natural resources, and increased oversight.

To achieve the aforementioned project results, LEAT and the sub awardee will directly strengthen the capacity of 2311 community members and local government officials including district officers (forest, environment, land, water, beekeeping, planning, community development, fishery, agriculture, mining), division officers, ward councilors, ward education coordinators, ward executive officers, ward community development officers, ward tribunals, village councils, village natural resources committees, village land councils, community owned water supply organizations, water users associations and villagers. The project, will similarly reach 5,000 villagers (in school and out of school) through public sensitization meetings on natural resources management, climate change and social accountability monitoring.

Likewise, to adapt and mitigate climate change effects, the project will work with Rukwa community to: plant 400,000 environmental friendly trees; facilitate 300 household with energy efficient stoves; form 15 Social Accountability Monitoring (SAM) teams; support the promulgation of 15 village by-laws; facilitate the development of 5 land use plans from the 15 targeted project villages and assist the provision of 1,000 Certificates of Customary Rights of Occupancy (CCROs); and work with 15 income generating groups to derive income from environmentally friendly natural resources activities.

In all phases of project implementation, LEAT will ensure proper engagement of likeminded stakeholders including USAID’s Lishe Endelevu Project, Land Tenure Assistance (LTA), Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), media outlets, small-scale producers and other NRM projects and thus enhance collaboration, learning and sharing of experiences for integrated environment and natural resources management. All project activities will be publicized through the use of Rukwa based community radios.

Advocacy for Improved Legal and Regulatory Regimes of Minerals, Gas and Petroleum Laws in Tanzania:

“Advocacy for Improved Legal and Regulatory Regimes of Minerals, Gas and Petroleum Laws in Tanzania” is a three-year project that seeks to promote transparency and accountability in the extractive industry sector in Tanzania so that the sector can significantly contribute in improving the lives of Tanzanians, the primary and traditional custodians of the extractive resources.

Collective Action for Rights Realisation in Extractives Industry (CLARITY).

The CLARITY project designed and implemented by Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), the Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) and the Tanzanian Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC) in Geita (Geita Municipal and District Council) and Mara (Butiama, Bunda and Tarime Districts) regions. VSO, LEAT and TWCC recognise the powerful role youth, women, and people with disabilities (PWD) and associated CSO/networks can play in demanding rights, equal access, transparency and access to information and justice in the extractive industry when they acquire the necessary skills, assets, aspirations and capabilities for full, equal and effective participation.

The Project aims at:
  • Enable women, youth and PWD to realise their rights to quality jobs, income, social inclusion, wellbeing, protection, civil society support and protection.
  • Ignite accountability and transparency mechanisms at the community, private sector, and government level.
  • Strengthen equitable and responsive due diligence mechanisms and responsible business practices within the extractive sector, including access to justice.
Project Action’s Specific Objectives are:
  • Strengthened business responsive due diligence mechanisms that hold duty bearers to account and increase access to justice in the extractive sector, delivered to marginalised groups by CSOs, unions and networks.
  • More accountable, equitable and responsive business practices of public and private duty bearers in extractive sector related to formal and self-employment, and environmental protection.
  • 4,000 marginalized women, youth and PWD are informed and empowered to raise their voice, be heard and access justice for harmful economic, corporate, and sociocultural practices.
Expected Output:
  • Improved CSO organisational capacity and ability to conduct budget analysis; advocacy; provide access to information; community and citizen-led monitoring
  • Active multi-stakeholder forums are set up to broaden partnerships between LGAs, key ministries, CSOs, CSR and human resource representatives from large mining corporations and SMEs.
  • Paralegals and legal aid clinics in Geita and Mara provide access to justice legal advice and alternative resolution mechanisms.
  • Women, youth and PWD understand economic rights, entitlements and how to safely claim them.
  • Improved capacity of community members to protect, include and uphold marginalised groups’ economic rights a nd entitlements supported by the development of community safe spaces.
  • Strengthened capacity of community leaders in rights and entitlements of marginalised groups, power dynamics, social and inclusion and gender social accountability tools, conflict resolution, their roles as community duty bearers and monitoring of ethical practices within business.

Integrated Approach for Transformation of Tanzania Fuel Wood Value Project - TFWVC

  • 1. LEAT under the grants from European Union has entered into an agreement with WWF-Tanzania to execute a three-year project (2023 – 2026) titled "Integrated Approach for Transformation of Tanzania Fuel Wood Value Project - TFWVC". The project aims to enhance the capacity of the Tanzanian government and public institutions to promote sustainable forest management and wood-fuel production in rural areas, with the overarching goal of improving environmental sustainability, particularly within the wood-fuel value chain. The project is being implemented in 6 target areas in the regions of Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Tanga, Tabora, Mwanza, and Pwani.
  • 2. The main goal of the project is to improve forest ecosystem integrity in the target communities as a result of strengthened governance and regulatory frameworks for sustainable cooking energy solutions. This goal covers several key objectives aimed to ensure that key institutional stakeholders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Tanzania Forest Agency Services, President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government Authorities, Vice President’s Office, and Ministry of Energy are effectively coordinating and supporting sustainable forest management along the fuel wood value chain in the target project areas.
  • 3.In this project, LEAT's main task is to focus on addressing constraints and barriers within regulatory frameworks that impact the coordination and management of the fuel-wood sector. It involves enhancing institutional capabilities for effective monitoring, surveillance, and law enforcement, as well as increasing public awareness to foster attitude changes towards sustainable fuel-wood production and forest management compliance with laws and regulations. Additionally, LEAT will prioritize the harmonization of key regulations to enhance governance, coordination, and compliance within the sector.
  • 4. LEAT will conduct a capacity needs assessment on extension service support and law enforcement to MNRT, TFS, LGAs, Resident Magistrate, and Attorney General Chambers and prosecutors in the project areas. Immediately after the needs assessment, LEAT will undertake capacity-building training, skills development, and hands-on training on extension service support, rights-based approach law enforcement capabilities to the MNRT, TFS, and LGAs in enforcing compliance with forest laws and regulations for selected TFS staff in the Zonal Offices.
  • 5.LEAT will further conduct capacity-building training for key identified TFS, LGAs, Resident Magistrates, Attorney General Chambers, and prosecutor staff on investigation and prosecution procedures, evidence gathering, judicial processes, and international treaties (FLEGT) and access benefit-sharing frameworks. It will be responsible for the development of specific training modules for students and other trainees to work under TFS and other strategic institutions for law enforcement in the forest and fuel wood value chain, translating key and strategic laws, regulations, guidelines, and other documents relating to forest management into the popular version and distributing them to government organs responsible for investigating and prosecuting forest and other related crimes.
  • 6.LEAT will be responsible to prepare a simplified forest crime prosecution reference guide for TFS/LGAs and magistrate and prosecutors. It will also undertake the review and update of key legal frameworks governing forest management and enforcement to ensure enforceability.

ENHANCING THE PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN AFRICA. (KUIMARISHA ULINZI WA WATETEZI WA MAZINGIRA BARANI AFRIKA)

“Enhancing the Protection of Environmental Defenders in Africa” is a one-year project funded by the American Bar Association Rule of Law (ABAROL). The project is implemented in Tanzania, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by five Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) namely: Defend Defenders, a regional human rights defenders organization based in Uganda, and its local partners: Advocates for Natural Resources and Development (ANARDE) and National Human Rights Defenders Coalition (NHRDC) in Uganda, Lawyers’ Environmental Action Team (LEAT) in Tanzania and Alerte Congolaise pour l’Environement et les Droits de l’Homme (ACEDH) in the DRC. The overarching goal of the project is to enhance the capacity of defenders and local communities to safely advocate for greater environmental protection at the national and at the regional levels. As a consortium, the five organizations work to promote freedom of expression, rule of law and access to justice in Tanzania, Uganda and DRC. The project safeguards individuals and organizations that work to protect the environment across the African continent. Recognizing the increasing threats and dangers faced by environmental defenders, the project focuses on providing essential support, resources, and training to enhance safety and effectiveness. Among many, LEAT builds public awareness and community engagement to advocate for their rights, access justice and enhance the environmental protection of affected regions. The organization implements the project in ten mining surrounding villages of Nyamwaga, Komarera, Kewanja, Kerende, Nyakunguru, Msegi, Matongo, Nyangoto, Mjini Kati, and Nyabichune. The villages are from five wards that are: Nyamwaga, Matongo, Kemambo, Kibasuka, and Nyarukoba in Tarime District, Mara region. The project employs a number of interventions including capacity building, legal assistance, security training, advocacy efforts, and the establishment of networks to strengthen the resilience of environmental defenders and promote sustainable environmental conservation in Africa. LEAT envisions communities surrounding mining activities with an increased understanding of their duties and responsibilities to protect the environment (a duty that is vested to all Tanzania citizens by the Environmental Management Act of 2004). Moreover, LEAT envisions increased access to environmental justice; and how to best advocate for greater environmental protection.
Usimamizi Endelevu Wa Maliasili Activity: Integrated Approach for Transformation of Tanzania Fuel Wood Value Project - TFWVC ENHANCING THE PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDERS IN AFRICA.