About CEELS

Community Economic Empowerment and Legal Support (CEELS) is an NGO which  was incepted in year 2010 and was registered in the same year through NGO Act, 2002. Originally CEELS acquired registration number 00NGO/00003988 on 26^th July, 2010 followed by registration number 00NGO/0008812 on 3^rd November, 2016. CEELS has complied as per improved NGO policy 2019 and NGO Act, 2022 with its subsequent amendments thus CEELS acquired newer registration number 00NGO/R1/00355 on 27^th December, 2023 as issued by the registrar of NGOs.

Headquarters:

• CEELS head office is located at Msikitini Street, nearby Main Market, Mazwi ward, Sumbawanga Municipal in Rukwa Region. Outreach/Project/Program Offices:
• CEELS has 2 outreach offices in Nkasi DC and Mpanda MC in Katavi Region
• In Katavi region; CEELS implement ACHIEVE project in Mpanda MC, Nsimbo DC, Mpimbwe DC and Tanganyika DC.

Current projects operation geographical coverage:

1. Rukwa region (Sumbawanga MC, Sumbawanga DC, Nkasi DC and Kalambo DC)
2. Katavi region (Mpanda MC, Tanganyika DC, Mpimbwe DC and Nsimbo DC)

CEELS Strategic Direction:

1. To complement government efforts on fighting against HIV and AIDS, COVID -19, malaria and public health matters.
2. To promote environmental conservation, agriculture, food and nutrition security, education and water and sanitation
3. To foster system strengthening, awareness and advocacy and facilitate exchange of information and dialogue on strategic nutrition issues in Tanzania.
4. To promote communities’ livelihoods through economic easement.
5. To promote maternal and reproductive health and rights

CEELS has been implementing activities in thematic areas that include:-

1. Social accountability
2. Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in collaboration with Marie stopes Tanzania (MST)
3. Nutrition
4. HIV/AIDS intervention
5. Orphans Vulnerable Children (OVC) including Vulnerable Adolescent Girls and Young Women (vAGYWs) and Youth
6. Advocacy
7. PANITA Zonal Coordination (Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa and Katavi Regions)

Current and Past Donors:

1. Current donors:

• DoD/WRAIR (CEELS is sub-awardee through HJFMRI/WRP-T)
• USAID (CEELS is sub-awardee throough Deloitte Consult)
• USAID (CEELS is sub-awardee through SATF)

2. Past donors:

• 2021-2023: USAID (CEELS is sub-awardee through Pact Tanzania) for implementing adolcents and children HIV incidents reduction empowerment & virus elimination (ACHIEVE) project
• 2019-2020 Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) and implemented intensify Community based Interventions for Gender Based Violence and Violence Against Children project
• 2016: Scale Up Nutrition (SUN) – CEELS was sub-awardee through PANITA and implemented an intervention regarding Accountable District Nutrition Steering Committees
• 2011-2013: USAID (CEELS was sub-awardee through FHi360 and implemented Reducing New HIV Infection among (MARPS) project

Interventions:

CEELS has been implementing activities in thematic areas that include:-

1. Social accountability and economic strengthening
2. Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in collaboration with Marie stopes Tanzania (MST)
3. Nutrition, Agriculture and environment
4. HIV/AIDS intervention
5. Orphans Vulnerable Children (OVC) including Vulnerable Adolescent Girls and Young Women (vAGYWs) and Youth
6. Advocacy
7. PANITA Zonal Coordination (Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa and Katavi Regions)

Work Force:

Currently; CEELS has 55 staff with diverse qualification and rich experience and 600 community volunteers. It has an annual average of reaching 23,000 primary beneficieries through service delivery

CEELS Membership:

CEELS is a member of  partnership for nutrition in Tanzania (PANITA) and PELUM Tanzania

Board of Directors: