Joseph Chiombola is Landesa’s Policy and Law Expert, Africa Region based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Joseph started working for Landesa in 2024.
What brought you to Landesa?
I am always passionate to advocate for the land rights of small-scale producers, particularly women who reside in villages, peri-urban, and urban areas. This vision aligns with Landesa’s core mission which persuaded me to join the organization. Also, having worked at the national level for 15 years, it was high time for me to upscale my contribution in advocating for the land rights of marginalized communities at the regional and global levels.
What are your core responsibilities in your role?
My core responsibility is to collaborate across Landesa’s global network to develop and implement legal and policy strategies that foster responsible, equitable, and inclusive land governance across Africa. Also, I am leading policy and law reviews, providing technical expertise for national and regional legal reforms, and designing interventions that integrate crucial cross-cutting sectors like environment, climate change, gender, and human rights. In addition to that I promote strategic collaboration with a diverse array of stakeholders, including governments, civil society organizations, the private sector, and community representatives. Last but not least, I drive the identification, sharing, and implementation of local and international best practices to strengthen land rights at all levels.
What is the most rewarding part of your work at Landesa?
The most rewarding part of my work is seeing the adoption of the key policy recommendations of the policies and laws related to land and natural resources that have direct impact on the lives of small-scale producers, particularly women.
How do you spend your time when you’re not working?
I spend most of my free time watching football, watching movies, listening to music, and spending time with my family.
Describe your vision for a better world.
A world where small scale producers’ rights to land and natural resources are recognized, respected, and protected.
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