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Beneficiaries

Justice Starts Here

The Tanzania Network of Legal Aid Providers (TANLAP), registered under No. 00NGO/R1/00995 and operational since 2009, is a national coalition of NGOs, CBOs, FBOs, and legal aid practitioners dedicated to ensuring that justice is accessible to all—especially the poor and vulnerable—across every region of mainland Tanzania. Through a collaborative network of legal professionals, paralegals, and human-rights advocates, TANLAP delivers free legal assistance, education, and empowerment programs to those facing systemic barriers, promoting accountability, upholding human rights, and fostering a culture in which equitable legal support is recognized as the foundation of a fair and inclusive society.

Vision

TANLAP envisions a society with access to justice whereby people are able or enabled to seek and obtain a remedy through formal or informal institutions of fair and proper administration of laws for grievances in compliance with human rights standards.

Mission

TANLAP intends to build the capacity of legal aid providers in Tanzania; provide proper and improve the coordination and harmonization of the legal aid providers; and strengthen its own organizational development and sustainability.

Our Reach

26

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Regions Covered

65

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Members

600

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Certified Paralegals

20

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Policy Reforms

Board Of Directors

Meet the Board of Directors of TANLAP

Dr.Anna Henga

Board Chair Person

Christina Ruhinda

Board Secretary

Adv. Genoveva Kato

Board Member

Adv. Daniel Lema

Board Member

Dr. Rose Reuben

Board Member

Management Team

Meet the management guiding TANLAP’s strategic direction and mission oversight.

Christina Ruhinda

Executive Director

CPA Swalehe Kambona

Finance and Operations Manager

Fransica Silayo

Programs Manager

Our Stakeholders

About TANLAP

we build the capacity of legal aid providers, harmonize service quality and ethics, and advocate for rights-based law and policy reforms.

Through partnership, innovation, and unwavering integrity, TANLAP strengthens grassroots voices and drives systemic change so that every Tanzanian can seek and obtain fair legal remedies.

Reach Us

© 2025| All rights reserved - Tanzania Network of Legal Aid Providers

Dr. Anna Henga

Dr. Anna Henga is the LHRC Executive Director, she is vested with responsibility to lead the Centre’ to advocate for legal and policy reforms as well as change of practices to realize the vision of attaining a Just and Equitable Society.

Anna joined LHRC back in 2006 as an intern and later legal officer volunteer at the LHRC’s legal aid clinic in Arusha, afterwards she has been successfully serving in various roles counting Programme Coordinator— Constitutional Reforms, Coordinator of the Southern Africa Legal Assistance Network (SALAN) as well as Program’s Officer — Gender, Children and Anti FGM Coordinator.

Her hardwork and dedication in defending human rights has been impressive, as a result she was nominated among ten extraordinary women from around the World and received the International Woman of Courage Award (IWOC) in the USA on March 7, 2019.

Anna holds a master’s degree in Development Policy and Practice for Civil Society, (Mzumbe University), Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Institute of Finance Management (IFM), Bachelor of Laws (University of Dar-es-Salaam) and Diploma in Gender- from Sweden Institute of Public Administration.

Christina Ruhinda

Ms. Christina Kamili Ruhinda is a distinguished lawyer with a Master’s Degree in Governance and Leadership. She serves as the Executive Director of the Tanzania Network of Legal Aid Providers (TANLAP), TANLAP has emerged as a prominent force in advancing access to justice and advocating for the rights of citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized. At TANLAP, Ms. Ruhinda has spearheaded efforts to enhance the capacities of its members, empowering them to engage with the government effectively. She has been instrumental in creating awareness about critical legal and human rights issues and advocating for policy reforms that uphold the rights of women and of Tanzanian citizens. Notably, Ms. Ruhinda coordinated the legal efforts to enact the Legal Aid Act of 2017 and its Regulations of 2018, establishing a framework for legal aid provision in Tanzania.

Ms. Ruhinda’s dedication to promoting access to justice extends beyond TANLAP. She holds several influential positions, including serving as a Board member of the Access to Justice and Rule of Law project implemented by the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs and UNDP. Additionally, she is a Committee Member of the Mama Samia Legal Aid Campaign, Chairperson of Policy Forum (PF), and a member of various boards and committees of non- governmental organizations, demonstrating her commitment to fostering collaboration and driving positive change.

Recognized for her expertise and contributions, Ms. Ruhinda has received prestigious awards and recognition both locally and internationally. She was honored with the Fulbright Humphrey Fellowship in Law and Human Rights and participated in courses at renowned institutions such as Syracuse University and the University of Minnesota. During her time in the United States, she collaborated with esteemed organizations, including the George Washington University, Global Rights for Women, and Minnesota Africans United.

Her outstanding leadership has garnered accolades, including the TIFLD Leadership Award in 2021, Tanzania Human Rights Defenders Coalition (THRDC) Board Membership Award in 2022, and the Women Civil Society Director’s Forum Award for her exceptional work in strengthening the women’s movement in Tanzania and globally. Ms. Ruhinda’s expertise has been recognized by the World Bank Group, which awarded her a certificate of appreciation for her contributions to Women, Business, and the Law. She has also been acknowledged for her extraordinary leadership in the global movement to end violence against women and girls.

As a respected member of various regional and international networks, Ms. Ruhinda actively contributes to discussions and expert meetings focused on access to justice and democracy. Her participation in African Union expert meetings organized by the Political Affairs Department reflects her commitment to advancing justice on a continental scale.

Under Ms. Christina Kamili Ruhinda’s exceptional leadership, TANLAP continues to make significant strides in providing quality legal aid, promoting access to justice, and championing the rights of marginalized communities in Tanzania. Her tireless dedication, expertise, and relentless advocacy have cemented her position as a trailblazer in the field of legal aid and access to justice, inspiring change and making a lasting impact in Tanzania and beyond

CPA Peter Letema

Peter is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-T) with over 12 years of dedicated experience in the NGO sector. He brings a wealth of expertise in financial management, donor fund administration, and compliance. His career is marked by a meticulous approach to managing complex financial landscapes, ensuring adherence to international accounting standards and donor requirements. Peter has successfully managed significant multi-million-dollar grants from various prestigious donors. His proficiency includes donor fund management, internal controls, audit and tax management, proposal budgeting, sub-granting, and financial reporting. He has a proven track record of enhancing organizational efficiency and accountability through strategic financial oversight and robust internal controls.

In his current role as Manager of Support Services, Admin and Finance Department (SSAF) at HakiElimu, Peter oversees the management of the organization’s funds, assets, ICT systems, procurement, and human resources. He has played a pivotal role in transitioning the organization’s financial reporting from IFRS to IPSAS standards and has facilitated numerous internal and external audits with top audit firms. Previously, as an Accountant at HakiElimu, he was instrumental in managing project funds, preparing accurate financial reports, and ensuring compliance with donor requirements.

His additional experience includes capacity building for organizations, financial advisory roles, and contributing to strategic budget development. His commitment to excellence, attention to detail, and proactive approach to financial management have been key to driving organizational success and fostering a culture of transparency and integrity. Throughout his work and career, Peter embraces rethinking and unlearning as part of his continuous lifelong learning.

Peter holds an MSc in Economics and Finance for Development from the University of Bradford, UK, and a B.Com in Finance (Hons) from the University of Dar es Salaam. He is a member of the Eastern Africa CSO’s Financial Management Community of Practice (EAFM CoP) and an active member of the National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA).

Adv.Utti Mwang'amba

Ms. UTTI ANDERSON MWANG’AMBA is an experienced advocate of the High Court of Tanzania holding Bachelor Laws degree (LL.B) from the University of Dar es  Salaam; MSC. in Insurance and Actuarial Science;  Certificate in election monitoring and dispute resolution from the University of Wisconsin–United States of America; certificate  of Legal Aid  Providers from Legal Aid Project of Uganda Law Society; and Certificate  in Civil and Human Rights from the Fredrick Nauman Stiftung, in German. Currently she serves as the Executive Director of Centre for Widows and Children Assistance (CWCA), Board Chairperson of Tanzania Network of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, Family Legal Support; and Tanzania Network for Legal Aid Providers ( TANLAP).

Ms. Utti also attended various courses on organizational development, project  and financial  management organised by the Foundation for Civil Society. She further attended courses on policy analyisis, gender, practical training on legal matters and, she conducted several trainings on legal and human rights issues in rural Tanzania.

She participated in drafting of several Bills  such namely;  the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control ) Act of 2008,  Public  Health (Drainage and Sanitation) with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Human DNA Regulation Act  with the Government Chemist  Laboratory Agency. In  2000- 2005 she worked with the Legal and Human rights Centre based in Tanzania as an Outreach Assistance Officer.

Ms. Utti is a member of Tanganyika Law Society (TLS) and the Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF)-Tanzania https://wildaftanzania.or.tz. Her experience is useful to the Law School of Tanzania. 

Adv. Genoveva Kato

Advocate Genoveva M. Kato is a seasoned Tanzanian legal practitioner and governance leader. She serves on TANLAP’s Board of Directors and is the Executive Director of Dynamic Women for Productive Initiative, where she spearheads programs to advance women’s economic and legal empowerment

In 2020, she was appointed as a Commissioner of the Tanzania Judiciary Services Commission, contributing to the oversight and reform of the nation’s judicial administration

With extensive experience in legal aid, institutional reform, and civil‐society advocacy, Adv. Kato is committed to strengthening access to justice and ethical governance across Tanzania.

Adv Daniel Lema

Mr. Daniel Naftal Lema is a distinguished Tanzanian legal and governance expert with over 17 years of experience in human rights, legal aid, and public policy. As Chief of Party for Freedom House Inc., he leads regional initiatives to advance democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. In his capacity as a Board Member, Mr. Lema champions civil society’s role in shaping and furthering the East African Community’s integration agenda.

In addition to his advocacy work, he coordinates Tanzania’s National Legal Aid Secretariat, where he has significantly expanded access to justice through targeted legal aid programs. Mr. Lema has driven key legal and institutional reforms in alignment with the EAC’s vision for equitable regional integration. His interdisciplinary approach to sustainable development is further evidenced by collaborative research on maternal and child health with Aga Khan University.

Mr. Lema holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Human Rights from Central European University. He brings proven expertise in program and project management, nonprofit leadership, and capacity-building—leveraging data generation, collection, and analysis to inform advocacy and policy reforms across governance, human rights, and social justice sectors.

Dr. Rose Reuben

DR Rose Reuben (PhD) is currently the Executive Director for the Tanzania Media Women’s Association (TAMWA), Tanzania Human Rights Defender (THDRC) Board  Member, The African Women’s Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) Board Member representing East and Horn of Africa Region, Board Member representing Tanzania in the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) and Board Member for Women Legal Aid Centre (WLAC)

Professionally Rose Reuben who is the Sociologists specializing in the aspects of Gender and Communication for Social Change has previously worked as an independent consultant focusing on mentoring journalists on investigative and public interest stories related to women and children social rights.  She has also worked with Hivos in the pilot project of the Tanzania Media Fund (TMF) as a senior program officer in charge of the Institution grants, and the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) as the principle journalist, news editor, news reporter, programs producer and the Television and Radio broadcaster.

Her passion is seeing the society that respects human rights in gender perspective

Adv. Novath Rukwago

Mr. Novath is a human rights advocate with experience in advocacy for child rights, gender, and persons with disabilities rights; parliamentary engagement in advocacy and lobbying for inclusive parliamentary development debates; dialogue with government and development partners for implementation of UN Conventions, Treaties, and Protocols on the rights of marginal groups; consultation in law review. Working as a strategic planner in mainstreaming the rights of vulnerable community groups and their socio-economic empowerment in government program. He also has legal knowledge in oil and gas, environment and climate change.

CPA Swalehe Kambona

An Associate Certified Public Accountant (ACPA(T)) and seasoned Finance and Operations Manager with over 14 years of experience managing complex, donor-funded projects across Tanzania. Swalehe Kambona possesses a strong command of financial management, grants compliance, budgeting, and operational leadership. He has successfully led financial and grants management for reputable organizations such as TANLAP, THPS, WiLDAF Tanzania
and SICD working with prominent donors including USAID, CDC, UKAID, UNFPA, EU, DANIDA, UN Women, and others.
Throughout his career, Swalehe Kambona has consistently demonstrated the ability to strengthen financial systems, ensure donor compliance, and drive cost-effective resource
allocation. He has trained and mentored finance and program teams, led audits using IPSAS standards, and supported multi-project portfolios from proposal budgeting through to final
reporting. Swalehe Kambona is also highly experienced in procurement oversight, HR operations, and risk management.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Corporate Finance from the University of Dar es Salaam, is a Associate Certified Public Accountant certification with National Board of Accountants and Auditors (NBAA) and has received extensive donor and compliance
training from institutions such as USAID, PACT, UN Women, and NBAA. Fluent in both English and Swahili, Swalehe Kambona brings a strategic, results-oriented approach to finance and operations leadership.

Adv. Fransica Silayo

Fransisca is the High Court and subordinate courts Advocate, human rights defender and activists, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) manager at Tanzania Network for Legal Aid Providers (TANLAP), facilitator, researcher and a consultant for more than 10
years. She has 13 years’ experience in research including: research on human rights, women and children especially girls as well as peer research on different issues including sexual and
reproductive health and rights.
Advocate Silayo, also possess over 10 years’ experience in mid -term and end evaluation of different organization projects as an associate Consultant, team leader and research assistant in different work. Her experience in human rights, law, leadership, politics, gender
and children’s rights is an advantaged for effective performance her duties considering the nature of some societies in Tanzania.
Adv. Silayo has also participated as an associate consultant in the development of different National Strategies including the national Anti- FGM Strategy, Gender strategy for different
Organizations including Tanzania Human Rights Defender’s Coalition among others.
Adv. Silayo has effectively monitored and evaluated different projects at TANLAP including the Mwanamke Imara Project, Legal Aid Provision for the Enhancement of the Rights of Women and Girls in Accessing Justice in Tanzania, Legal Aid Provision for Tembo Nickel
Project Affected Persons and USAID Wananchi Tuamue Project among others.