Legal and Human Rights Resource Centre (Tanzania)

The Legal and Human Rights Centre is a non-governmental human rights organisation based in Dar es Salaam. Its main purpose is to strive to empower the public, promote, reinforce and safeguard human rights and good governance in Tanzania.

Our introduction to LHRC was in 2001 when the organisation was based in a tiny rented office.  We returned to work with them 2018, with nearly 80 staff, based in their own resource centre and in offices across Tanzania, but they faced a major transition in funding.

We completed a funder ecology map for them, which showed 110 potential funders to approach.  Most importantly, we focussed their attention on a ‘most wanted list’ of eight key funders.  We then developed a four-day workshop which equipped 50 of the staff to engage with funders.  The next step was for our Associate, Caroline Makokha Setimela, to edit their new strategic plan – a key sales tool for approaching donors.  Equipped with a list of donors to approach, the confidence and skills to do this and a well written strategy, LHRC set about securing funds.

The results were dramatic.  Within a year, LHRC had their 2019-2021 operational budget fully funded with new donors on board: Embassy of Ireland and Wellspring, both on core funding. They had also fund-raised almost 80% of their election observation project with four donors on board i.e. Embassies of Switzerland, Denmark, Finland and Ireland. They also had signed agreements for short projects with ViiV Health and Equality Now.

“We’ve had such fun working with Bill, Caroline and Marie-Claire – they have been instrumental in remodelling the funding at LHRC.  The workshop was a great team building event and has given us memorable and enduring skills.  Caroline’s editing of our Strategic Plan converted it into a powerful promotional tool.  We’ll be sure to keep working with Fundraising Training Ltd”

Anna Henga Executive Director of LHRC