Leyrand Law Firm

Leyrand advises businesses, investors, financial institutions and development projects on business and human rights matters in Tanzania.

We help clients identify and manage the human rights issues that can arise from business operations, investments, major projects, supply chains and relationships with workers and communities.

Our approach is practical and preventive. Human rights issues are easier to manage when they are identified early and considered alongside the commercial, regulatory and operational aspects of a business or project.

Business and Human Rights in Tanzania

Businesses are increasingly expected to understand how their activities affect people, communities and the environment in which they operate.

These expectations come from Tanzanian law, contractual requirements, investor and lender standards, international frameworks and the growing expectations placed on businesses operating across global supply chains.

Leyrand helps clients understand how these different requirements affect their operations in Tanzania and translate them into practical measures.

Our work includes:

human rights due diligence;
human rights impact assessments;
business and human rights policies;
ESG and responsible business advice;
community and stakeholder issues;
land and resettlement-related human rights risks;
labour and workplace rights;
supply-chain due diligence;
grievance mechanisms;
responsible sourcing;
project and investment due diligence;
lender and investor requirements;
human rights investigations;
remediation; and
training for boards, management and operational teams.

Human Rights Due Diligence

Human rights due diligence helps a business understand where its operations, projects or commercial relationships may affect people and what can be done to prevent or reduce harm.

Leyrand conducts and supports human rights due diligence for businesses and investors operating in Tanzania.

Our work can include:

identifying actual and potential human rights risks;
reviewing operations and business relationships;
assessing policies and internal procedures;
stakeholder mapping;
reviewing labour and working conditions;
assessing community impacts;
examining supply-chain risks;
identifying gaps in existing controls;
recommending mitigation measures; and
developing practical action plans.

We tailor the process to the nature, size and risk profile of the business rather than applying a standard checklist.

Human Rights Impact Assessments

Major projects can affect communities, workers, land, livelihoods, access to resources and other rights.

Leyrand supports Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs) for proposed and existing projects in Tanzania.

An assessment may consider:

land and property;
displacement and resettlement;
livelihoods;
community health and safety;
working conditions;
vulnerable groups;
gender-related impacts;
security arrangements;
access to water and natural resources;
supply chains;
community engagement; and
access to grievance and remedy.

We can work alongside environmental, social, technical and community-engagement specialists where a project requires multidisciplinary assessment.

Major Projects and Infrastructure

Human rights considerations can arise throughout the lifecycle of a major project, from land acquisition and construction to operation and closure.

Leyrand advises developers, investors, lenders and contractors on human rights risks associated with:

infrastructure;
mining;
energy;
renewable energy;
oil and gas;
transport;
ports and logistics;
construction;
real estate;
agriculture;
tourism; and
other major developments.

Our Business & Human Rights practice works closely with our Project Finance & Infrastructure, Mining & Natural Resources, Employment, Real Estate and Environmental capabilities where these issues overlap.

Mining, Energy and Natural Resources

Mining and natural-resource projects can create particularly complex relationships between businesses, workers, communities, government authorities and investors.

We advise on human rights issues involving:

community impacts;
land access;
displacement and resettlement;
livelihood impacts;
local communities;
worker rights;
contractor conduct;
security arrangements;
community grievances;
supply chains;
project due diligence;
stakeholder engagement; and
remediation.

We help clients identify these risks early and integrate appropriate safeguards into project governance and operational decision-making.

Land, Communities and Resettlement

Land-intensive investments can affect homes, livelihoods, cultural interests and community relationships.

Leyrand advises businesses and projects on the human rights aspects of:

land acquisition;
access to land;
displacement;
resettlement;
livelihood restoration;
community consultation;
compensation processes;
community agreements;
stakeholder engagement;
project grievance mechanisms; and
land-related disputes.

Our role is to help clients understand both the legal requirements and the wider human rights considerations surrounding project-affected communities.

Community Engagement and Stakeholder Management

Strong community relationships cannot be created only when a dispute arises.

Leyrand helps businesses develop approaches to stakeholder engagement that are appropriate to the project and the communities affected by it.

Our work can include:

stakeholder mapping;
community engagement frameworks;
consultation procedures;
community agreements;
grievance procedures;
documentation and governance;
management of community complaints; and
advice during sensitive community engagements.

We can work with community-engagement and social-performance specialists where appropriate.

Operational Grievance Mechanisms

Businesses need credible ways for workers and communities to raise concerns before problems escalate.

Leyrand helps clients design and review operational grievance mechanisms that are accessible, understandable and capable of resolving legitimate concerns.

We advise on:

grievance procedures;
intake and escalation processes;
confidentiality;
investigation procedures;
documentation;
decision-making;
remediation;
appeals or review mechanisms; and
reporting to management.

We also review existing grievance mechanisms to identify practical and legal weaknesses.

Labour Rights and Working Conditions

Human rights responsibilities begin within the workplace.

Our Business & Human Rights and Employment teams advise businesses on issues involving:

working conditions;
wages and benefits;
discrimination;
harassment;
workplace health and safety;
freedom of association;
worker grievances;
migrant and contract workers;
recruitment practices;
forced labour risks;
child labour risks; and
contractor and subcontractor practices.

For businesses with extensive contractor networks, we can also review how labour standards are managed beyond the client's direct workforce.

Supply Chains and Responsible Sourcing

Human rights risks can arise not only from a company's own operations but also through suppliers, contractors and other business relationships.

Leyrand assists businesses with:

supply-chain human rights due diligence;
supplier codes of conduct;
responsible sourcing policies;
supplier contractual requirements;
supplier risk assessments;
contractor compliance;
audit and monitoring frameworks;
escalation procedures;
corrective action plans; and
responsible disengagement.

This is particularly relevant for Tanzanian businesses supplying multinational companies whose global compliance requirements extend into their local supply chains.

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights provide an important international framework for understanding the respective roles of states and businesses in preventing and addressing adverse human rights impacts.

Leyrand helps businesses translate these principles into practical governance and operational measures.

This can include:

human rights policies;
board and management oversight;
human rights due diligence;
impact assessment;
stakeholder engagement;
tracking and monitoring;
grievance mechanisms; and
remediation.

For multinational businesses, we can help apply group-level human rights standards within the Tanzanian operating context.

ESG and Responsible Investment

Human rights considerations increasingly form part of environmental, social and governance assessments undertaken by investors, lenders and business partners.

Leyrand advises on the social and human rights dimensions of ESG, including:

investment due diligence;
project risk assessments;
ESG policies;
human rights governance;
community impacts;
labour practices;
supply-chain risks;
stakeholder engagement;
grievance mechanisms; and
contractual ESG requirements.

We help clients distinguish between broad ESG commitments and the specific legal and human rights risks that require action.

Investor and Lender Human Rights Requirements

Projects financed by international lenders and development finance institutions may be required to meet standards that go beyond minimum domestic legal requirements.

Leyrand helps sponsors, borrowers and investors understand and implement human rights-related requirements arising from financing and investment arrangements.

Our work can involve:

lender due diligence;
project documentation;
environmental and social contractual obligations;
human rights action plans;
community and labour requirements;
reporting obligations;
corrective action; and
project monitoring.

Our Business & Human Rights practice can work alongside our Banking & Finance and Project Finance teams where these requirements form part of a financing transaction.

Mergers, Acquisitions and Human Rights Due Diligence

Human rights risks can become transaction risks.

Leyrand supports investors and businesses in identifying human rights issues during mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and major investments.

Our due diligence may consider:

labour practices;
community disputes;
land and resettlement issues;
supply chains;
security arrangements;
historical grievances;
contractor practices;
litigation and complaints;
human rights policies; and
existing remediation commitments.

Material findings can then be addressed through transaction structure, contractual protections, conditions precedent or post-acquisition action plans.

Security and Human Rights

Businesses operating in mining, energy, infrastructure and other high-risk environments may rely on public or private security arrangements.

Poorly managed security practices can create serious legal, human rights and reputational consequences.

Leyrand advises on:

security policies;
use of private security providers;
contractual standards;
community interactions;
incident procedures;
human rights training;
allegations of misconduct;
investigation and response; and
remediation.

Human Rights Investigations

When allegations of adverse human rights impacts arise, businesses need a response that is credible, independent and sensitive to the people involved.

Leyrand assists with investigations involving:

worker rights;
community complaints;
discrimination and harassment;
security incidents;
land-related allegations;
contractor misconduct;
supply-chain concerns; and
other alleged human rights impacts.

We help clients establish the facts, understand the legal and human rights implications and determine appropriate corrective or remedial action.

Remedy and Dispute Prevention

When harm or a legitimate grievance has occurred, the response matters.

Leyrand advises businesses on appropriate approaches to remediation, including:

negotiated resolution;
corrective action;
compensation arrangements;
restoration measures;
community agreements;
workplace remedies;
operational changes;
grievance resolution; and
settlement documentation.

Where possible, we focus on resolving legitimate concerns before they develop into prolonged disputes.

Human Rights Policies and Governance

Human rights commitments need appropriate governance if they are to work in practice.

Leyrand assists organisations with:

human rights policies;
board oversight structures;
management responsibilities;
codes of conduct;
supplier standards;
internal reporting;
escalation procedures;
grievance frameworks;
due diligence procedures; and
monitoring and review.

Policies are developed around the client's actual operations and risk profile rather than copied from generic international templates.

Board and Management Training

Boards and senior management increasingly need to understand how human rights risks can affect investment, operations, financing and reputation.

Leyrand provides tailored training for:

boards of directors;
senior management;
legal and compliance teams;
sustainability and ESG teams;
human resources;
procurement teams;
security personnel;
project teams; and
community relations teams.

Training can be built around realistic scenarios from the client's sector and operations.

Tanzania Counsel for International Business & Human Rights Matters

Multinational companies increasingly have global human rights policies and due diligence requirements that must be implemented across their operations and supply chains.

Leyrand can act as Tanzania counsel for multinational businesses, investors, lenders and international law firms requiring local support on business and human rights matters.

We combine knowledge of the Tanzanian legal and business environment with an understanding of international business and human rights standards.

This enables us to help international clients translate global requirements into measures that are appropriate and workable in Tanzania.

Business & Human Rights Advice in Tanzania

Responsible business is not separate from commercial success. For companies operating in sectors where projects affect workers, communities, land or natural resources, managing human rights risk is increasingly part of sound business and investment decision-making.

Leyrand helps businesses identify risks early, strengthen internal systems, engage responsibly with affected stakeholders and respond appropriately when concerns arise.

Whether you are investing in Tanzania, developing a major project, reviewing a supply chain, conducting human rights due diligence or strengthening your ESG and human rights framework, our team can support you.

Speak with our Business & Human Rights team about your operations, investment or project in Tanzania.

Dar es Salaam | Arusha | Tanzania

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