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Gracian Zibelu Banda is a lawyer specializing in environment
and development law and policy. Since graduating in law in 1990, Gracian
Banda has had a successful career in legal practice, university teaching,
consultancy and research and as director and member of public companies
and organizations in Malawi.
He has worked closely with a number of government and civil society
organizations in Malawi. At regional level Gracian Banda has consulted and
researched for the United Nations Environment Program, the United Nations
Development Program, the World Conservation Union - IUCN and the World
Resources Institute, Washington DC.
Gracian Banda’s most recent position was Regional Environmental Lawyer for
the World Conservation Union, Regional Office for Southern Africa. As
environmental lawyer for the regional office, Gracian Banda was
responsible for providing legal advice for national and regional
environmental projects in 12 SADC countries. In particular, Gracian Banda
managed a three year regional environmental law project which dealt with
issues such as trans-boundary natural resources management, genetic
resources and biodiversity, local environmental governance issues and
regional networking initiatives and environmental law information for
which he organized and supervised research and consultancy assignments,
assessed proposals for funding and facilitated national and regional
workshops to discuss and develop national regional policy options and
guidelines. He also supervised and edited environmental law and policy
publications such as texts, policy guidelines and workshop reports.
Gracian Banda is Director of Legal Services for the Centre for Environmental
Policy and Advocacy, a think tank non-profit making organization based in
Blantyre, Malawi. The current project profile of CEPA includes land and
agrarian reform in southern Africa, regional biodiversity and modern
biotechnology lobbying and advocacy, legislative representation in
environment and natural resources, distribution equity in environment and
natural resources management, climate change and policy and legal aspects
of community based natural resources management.
He has facilitated review and drafting of policy and legal instruments
such as the National Environmental Policy, the Environment Management Act
and a National Biotechnology Policy for Malawi. At regional level Gracian
Banda facilitated the finalization of the SADC Forestry Protocol adopted
in 2002; the African Forestry Law Enforcement and Government for Civil
Society in Southern Africa, and the draft Trans-boundary Natural Resources
Management Agreement between Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These
experiences and interactions have give Gracian Banda opportunities,
knowledge and expertise of working at both local level and highest level
in policy making and implementation in the region. To e-mail him click here
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