ABSTRACT
Cooperatives are long-standing socio-economic enterprises with a great contribution to poverty eradication everywhere in the world. Driven by concern for community principle, the enterprise roles are not only for members but also for the surrounding communities. Of late, cooperatives are appreciated and looked at as capable of being pivotal to addressing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), including those connected with natural resource preservation and protection. This chapter examines the potential of cooperatives in the management of water, energy and natural resourcesin Tanzania. It embodies a critical analysis of the existing legal and policy framework with a view of establishing whether the enterprises can manage such resources. Using primary and secondary data gathered through documentary review and observation, the chapter demonstrates that cooperatives can and should actively manage the resources. They can do so by leveraging their member-based structure, democratic governance and community-oriented principles in order to ensure sustainability in usage, equality in distribution and environmental stewardship. fThe chapter provides evidence from international best practices justifying why cooperatives best fit in the picture and particularly their ability to strike a balance between members’ socio-economic and cultural interests and communities broader environmental goals. The chapter reveals gaps and opportunities on the legal environment for cooperatives assumption of central roles in natural resources management in Tanzania. Notably, laws and policies are silent on the role of cooperatives in the management of these precious resources. Initiatives involving the use of cooperatives in the management of the resources are scanty, almost non-existent. The chapter proposes, in line with best practices observed, legislative reforms aiming at placing cooperatives in the forefront of natural resource managementhighlighting opportunities and positive spill-over effects if the reforms materialises and the enterprises are effectively utilised.
