About the NGO
TRC was formed and registered in 1979, under the Societies Act of 1981, as a non-governmental organization focused on social and environmental justice. For the proposed project TRC will work in partnership with Survivors of Lesotho Dams (SOLD), a sister organization of TRC which is a community based organization working with farmers and various individuals within communities affected by construction of Lesotho highlands water project. TRC is a membership based organization of individuals and community based organizations. The Centre has three frontline execution programmes which are social and environmental justice, democracy and human rights as well as information and resource Centre (community library). In terms of administration there is a board of directors which is structure of governance, beneath the latter there is director, finance manager and program manager. Subsequent to the managers the Centre has Program/departments heads followed by programmes officials. Currently the TRC has 23 members of staff of which majority of them are field officers.
TRC in partnership with Sisters of Holy Names have embarked on the strengthening of the community structures of Mokhotlong with leadership skills, good governance and legal framework for compensation. The Centre also work with communities affected by Let?eng Mine in the district on issues of environmental impact assessment and corporate social responsibility advocacy projects. Both TRC and SOLD are jointly working together to seek assistance from government to capacitate local government in the districts on issues of soil conservation.
Thus the proposal TRC seeks support from GEF program is to harness already existing efforts of current range management policy by organizing farmers into Grazing Associations and Village Grazing Schemes that will engineer community mobilization in range conservation and management projects. The proposal seeks to train farmers and grazing management committees this will be achieved through support to the SOLD and existing community association such as wool and mohair associations.
Context
The project of range conservation and management, land reclamation and rehabilitation, and fodder production is a response to two major problems characterizing communities of Polihali catchment. As another Lesotho highlands water project dam will be erected within the catchment challenges are that the vast amount of rangeland will be inundated by water and livestock will be compelled to compete over the remaining rangeland. It is anticipated that the competition over limited resources will result in overgrazing and consequently soil erosion. The targeted villages of Kanana ? Popa community as well as in Malubalube community are already facing challenges of unfolding ecological degradation resulting from climate change, overexploitation of natural resources and the topography of the mountain region which makes it susceptible to erosion. The area is characterized by excessive run-off affecting not only the rangelands but also cropland hence land is dissected by gullies. The targeted communities are also going to be affected by the re-settlement programme as a result of Polihali Dam construction.
The predecessor to the proposed project focused on capacity development of local communities and farmers on range management, agroforestry for land reclamation and production of fodder. However due to political instability and subsequently the national reforms processes in the country, the project implementation schedule was affected resulting in some planned activities falling behind. The proposed project aims to carry out some wrap-up and mop-up activities to bring the original project to a successful conclusion.
Project?s Main Objective

To empower communities and strength local initiatives in range management, land reclamation for fodder production through the following specific objectives:
? To support communities, leadership structures (chiefs and councilors) and farmers? to practice proper range management, soil and water conservation
? To engage communities, leadership structures (chiefs and councilors) and farmers? to practice in land reclamation, soil and water conservation
? To promote rearing of quality flock and cattle for commercial consumption and initiate zero grazing by stimulating a large scale fodder supply for local farmers