Six Years of Executive Leadership at LHRC: Key Lessons from Dr. Anna Henga

I was officially appointed as the Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights on 1st July 2018. Today 1st July 2024, I reflect on my six years as the Executive Director of the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC), I am reminded of the transformative journey our organization has undertaken in promoting justice, equity, and human rights across Tanzania. This period has been marked by significant milestones, challenges, and profound learning experiences that have shaped both my leadership approach and LHRC's strategic direction. Here, I share key lessons from this journey, which I believe are essential for any organization committed to advocating for human rights and social justice.

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1. Vision and Strategy Alignment

One of the fundamental lessons learned during my tenure has been the critical importance of aligning our activities with a clear, overarching vision. LHRC’s vision—to foster a society characterized by justice, equity, and the protection of human rights—has served as the cornerstone of our strategic planning and operational decisions. This alignment ensures that every initiative we undertake directly contributes to our broader mission.

Insight: Regularly revisiting LHRC’s strategic objectives has allowed us to adapt and refine our approach in response to the dynamic legal and societal landscape in Tanzania. This ongoing alignment has been instrumental in ensuring cohesive action toward our long-term goals, enabling LHRC to effectively serve the Tanzanian community. For instance, our efforts in legal education and advocacy are consistently evaluated against our vision, allowing us to prioritize initiatives that drive significant impact in promoting human rights.

Do: Ensure your strategic initiatives are always aligned with your vision. This clarity not only helps in setting priorities but also in communicating your goals effectively to stakeholders.

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2. Commitment to Gender Mainstreaming

Integrating gender perspectives into all aspects of our work has been a core principle at LHRC. This commitment reflects our belief in gender equality as a fundamental human right and a key driver of social justice.

Insight: Successful gender mainstreaming requires more than policies; it requires the belief and commitment of the leader. At LHRC, we have implemented gender-sensitive practices across our programs, infrastructure and advocacy efforts, ensuring that both men and women have equitable opportunities and that gender biases are actively challenged.

Do: Believe in and actively promote gender mainstreaming. When leaders are committed to gender equality, it permeates through the organization and leads to meaningful, systemic change.

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3. Empowering Teams and Fostering Collaboration

Empowering LHRC’s teams through delegation of responsibilities and fostering a culture of collaboration has been pivotal to our success. By encouraging autonomy among staff members and promoting inter-departmental collaboration, we have cultivated an environment where innovative solutions thrive, and a strong commitment to our mission is evident.

Insight: Providing clear roles and responsibilities, coupled with the necessary resources and support, has created a motivated and high-performing workforce. This empowerment has enabled LHRC to respond swiftly to emerging human rights issues, enhancing our ability to deliver impactful programs. For example, our legal aid clinics have benefited from the innovative approaches developed by empowered staff members, leading to more effective and accessible services for those in need.

Do: Delegate tasks effectively and mentor your team members. This not only builds their skills but also creates a more dynamic and innovative organization.

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4. Effective Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

Effective communication has been a cornerstone of building trust and ensuring alignment with our diverse stakeholders, including donors, government agencies, and the communities we serve. Transparent and consistent communication has facilitated stronger relationships and more effective advocacy efforts.

Insight: Tailoring our communication strategies to meet the unique needs of each stakeholder group has fostered a sense of inclusion and shared purpose. This approach has not only enhanced LHRC’s credibility but also mobilized essential support for our human rights initiatives. For example, our campaigns against gender-based violence have gained significant traction due to our targeted communication efforts, engaging both local communities and international partners in meaningful dialogue and action.

Do: Communicate timely and openly with all stakeholders. Transparency builds trust and ensures that everyone is aligned with your goals and expectations.

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5. Adapting to Change and Driving Innovation

The ability to adapt to change and foster innovation has been crucial in addressing the evolving human rights landscape in Tanzania. Embracing change and promoting a culture of continuous improvement have enabled LHRC to remain responsive to new challenges and opportunities, thereby enhancing our impact.

Insight: Viewing change as an opportunity rather than a challenge has empowered LHRC to experiment with new ideas and strategies. This mindset has been essential in developing innovative solutions to complex human rights issues, such as our digital advocacy initiatives, which have expanded our reach and engagement with younger audiences across Tanzania.

Do: Be courageous in embracing change. Innovations often come from trying new approaches and adapting to new realities.

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6. Ethical Leadership and Integrity

Upholding ethical standards and integrity has reinforced trust and credibility for LHRC. Making decisions grounded in ethical considerations and demonstrating integrity in all actions has set a positive example and maintained our reputation as a leading human rights organization in Tanzania.

Insight: Establishing and adhering to a robust ethical framework has ensured that LHRC’s decisions and actions consistently reflect our core values. This commitment to ethics has fostered a culture of honesty and respect, both within the organization and in our interactions with external partners, thereby enhancing our ability to advocate effectively for human rights.

Do: Be authentic in your leadership. Authenticity and integrity in your actions reinforce your credibility and foster trust within the organization and with external stakeholders.

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7. Resilience and Crisis Management

Building resilience and effective crisis management capabilities has been vital for navigating challenges and ensuring LHRC’s stability. Lessons from handling various crises over the past six years have highlighted the importance of preparedness, rapid response, and clear communication.

Insight: Developing resilience involves not only planning for potential crises but also fostering a resilient organizational culture that can adapt and recover quickly from setbacks. This approach has enabled LHRC to maintain its focus on long-term objectives while effectively addressing immediate challenges, such as our agile response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which included the rapid adaptation of our services to online platforms to continue providing legal aid and advocacy.

Do: Maintain a balance between your professional responsibilities and personal life. Work-life balance is crucial for sustaining long-term effectiveness and avoiding burnout.

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Conclusion

Reflecting on these six years of executive leadership at LHRC, the lessons learned underscore the importance of vision alignment, team empowerment, effective communication, adaptability, ethical integrity, resilience, and gender mainstreaming. These insights provide a robust foundation for LHRC’s continued success, guiding our efforts to promote and safeguard human rights in Tanzania.

As we move forward, these principles will continue to shape LHRC’s strategic direction and operational practices, ensuring that we remain a responsive and effective advocate for human rights. By adhering to these lessons, LHRC aims to strengthen its impact and uphold its commitment to justice, equity, and human rights for all Tanzanians.

In summary, these experiences and insights from my tenure as Executive Director underscore the critical elements that drive effective leadership in a human rights organization. They highlight the need for a cohesive vision, empowered teams, effective stakeholder engagement, adaptability, ethical integrity, resilience, and a commitment to gender mainstreaming. Through these guiding principles, LHRC will continue to navigate the complexities of human rights advocacy and make a lasting impact in promoting justice and equity in Tanzania.

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