Multi-stakeholder partnerships in conservation of natural resources are increasingly being regarded as an effective approach in sustainable resource conservation. However, the livelihood and ecological impact of such complex partnerships necessitates verification from individual accounts within communities adjacent to particular natural resources. It is from this perspective that a households survey was conducted to inform the research objectives of the New Partnerships for Sustainability (NEPSUS) research and capability building project. The project focuses on conservation partnerships in three key natural resource sectors in Tanzania: forests, wildlife, and coastal and marine resources. A total of 1061 household questionnaires were administered in 24 villages, eight in each sector, in Mtwara, Kilwa and Rufiji districts of southern Tanzania. The current paper presents key findings from the survey on the local involvement in designing and implementing these sustainability partnerships, and on what impacts they had in terms of livelihoods.