Open Society Initiative of Southern Africa (OSISA)

The main goal of this project is to provide funding for core programme activities and the funds under this grant will be used to cover institutional expenses including salaries, administration and essential equipment.

The beneficiaries of SADC LA’s work generally and under this project are the lawyers and human rights defenders in the SADC Region, and hopefully as a consequence the women, children, youth and the citizens of SADC. OSISA will provide a grant to SADC-LA, which is the representative body of lawyers, law societies and bar associations in the 15 member SADC region.

Formed in 1999 at an inaugural meeting of lawyers in the SADC Region that was held in Maputo, Mozambique, the mission of the Association is to uphold and defend the rule of law without fear or favour.

The project will run from July 2011 – June 2013 and aims to:

• Enhance the human rights and rule of law situation in the SADC Region;
• Improve the democracy and governance terrain in the SADC region; and,
• Develop the capacity of the SADC LA to effectively perform its mandate so that it achieves its aim of becoming the regional first port of call for issues of human rights and the rule of law as well as democracy and governance issues.