The Legal Services Facility (LSF) and Enabel, the Belgian development agency, have officially signed a 10.7 billion grant agreement today to implement the Improved Access to Justice for Women through Legal Aid
(IMPAWLA) Project.
This collaborative project is funded by European Union (EU) under its flagship initiative called “Gender Transformative Action: Breaking the Glass Ceiling.” The project aims to to reduce inequalities in access to justice for women and girls by enhancing their access to quality legal aid services. Additionally, it will strengthen the organizational capacity of LSF to improve the achievement of its mission.
Under this new grant agreement, LSF and Enabel will collaborate to implement a comprehensive legal aid program for women and marginalized groups. This program will take a holistic approach by focusing on improving the provision of quality legal aid for women, fostering legal empowerment, and promoting a conducive environment for access to justice. It will leverage LSF's extensive network of paralegals and legal aid providers, enhancing their capacity to deliver crucial services. A primary focus of this initiative will be on combating gender based violence.
LSF Executive Director, Lulu Ng'wanakilala said "Through this initiative, LSF will ensure that high-quality legal aid services are accessible to all individuals through formal and informal justice systems, empowering the community to understand, shape, and utilize the law. Moreover, the program aims to address gender-based violence and empower women socially, economically, and in leadership roles. We are delighted to sign this contract with Enabel, as it represents a significant step towards improving access to justice, particularly for women, girls, and marginalized communities across the country".
The Resident Representative at Enabel in Tanzania, Koenraad Goekint said “We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking collaboration with the Legal Services Facility (LSF) to enhance access to justice, particularly for women, girls, and marginalized communities in Tanzania. This partnership underscores our commitment to promoting sustainable development and fostering a society where everyone can access their rights and participate fully in the legal system. By leveraging our collective expertise and resources, we aim to make meaningful strides towards building a more equitable and just society for all Tanzanians".
EU Head of Delegation, H.E. Christine Grau, stated in her remarks that through the Gender Transformative Action Program, ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling’, and in particular this initiative, the EU continues to support access to justice for women and girls through legal aid in particular for victims of gender based violence. It indeed complements other efforts within the overall programme aimed also at promoting women's economic empowerment and increasing their leadership and representation in decision-making positions.
Both representatives also expressed their support and commitment to the project, emphasizing its potential in the protection of women’s rights against all forms of discrimination, with the aim of transforming Tanzanian society into a more equitable and just one. The initiative strives to ensure that justice is within reach for all individuals, regardless of their socio-economic status. The period for the implementation on the signed agreement is 26months.
