The Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) was launched in December 2008. The overall objective is to ensure the protection and conservation of the biological diversity and sustainable use of the natural resources of Lake Tanganyika and its basin. To achieve the overall objectives of the Convention on the Sustainable Management of Lake Tanganyika (the Convention), a Strategic Action Program was developed and endorsed by the four riparian countries.
The Conference of Ministers is the governing body of the LTA and consists of four Ministers, one from each of the Lake Tanganyika riparian countries: Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, and Zambia. The major function of the Conference of Ministers is to evaluate the implementation of the Convention. The Convention unites the countries in recognizing that Lake Tanganyika is a shared heritage with unique biological and other diversity. The Convention also recognizes the significance of Lake Tanganyika for the development of the riparian states, and the necessity of establishing a sustainable legal and institutional framework for cooperative management of the lake.
The secondary LTA leadership group is the Management Committee, which consists of four members from each Lake Tanganyika riparian country representing fisheries, environment, water and finance sectors. The major function of the Management Committee is to support, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Convention. The third LTA leadership group is the Secretariat which consists of the Executive Director, Deputy Executive Director and four Directors each responsible for Environment, Fisheries, Finance & Administration and Monitoring & Evaluation. The major function of the Secretariat is to oversee implementation of program and project activities in accordance with the provisions of the Convention and perform other functions determined by the Management Committee and the Conference of Ministers.