Stephen Karangizi

Stephen is a distinguished legal professional with an illustrious career spanning over four decades, showcasing exceptional expertise in the legal arena.

He served as the Director and CEO of the African Legal Support Facility (ALSF), hosted by the African Development Bank, addressing the asymmetric negotiating capacity of African governments in dealings with international investors. Under his leadership, the ALSF provided legal advice and technical assistance to at least 50 African countries, covering areas such as natural resource contracts, infrastructure, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).

During his tenure, Stephen successfully negotiated 45 Power Purchase Agreements for 40 countries and played a pivotal role in sovereign debt management, raising over USD$110 million in ten years for the Legal Facility. His innovative approach, including the creation of success-based financing, has been replicated by the Bank for similar funds.

Prior to the ALSF, Stephen held the position of Deputy Secretary General, Projects and Programmes at COMESA. Here, he managed the Regional Integration Program, overseeing diverse areas such as trade and customs, monetary cooperation and integration, infrastructure, agriculture, investment policy, natural resources, and industrial policy. He supervised 7 Divisions and 5 Institutions, including the Competition Commission and Clearing House, showcasing his ability to navigate multifaceted projects. Stephen also served as the Director of Legal and Institutional Affairs at COMESA, where he initiated and managed a groundbreaking regional public procurement program, leading to the reform of public procurement laws in 11 African countries, aligning them with the UNCITRAL model law on Public Procurement. Impressively, he successfully mobilized $11 million from the World Bank and AfDB for the project.

Stephen's global influence was further solidified when he assumed the position of Chairman of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). In this capacity, he oversaw the review of the UNCITRAL Model Laws on Arbitration and Public Procurement and chaired the UNCITRAL Conference in 2007, leaving an indelible mark on international trade law.

At one point in his career, Stephen served as a Parliamentary Counsel for the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the National Assembly of Uganda. Additionally, he held the position of Senior Legal Officer at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in Zimbabwe, providing crucial advisory services to various government departments, offering legal opinions on legislation interpretation, and drafting and clearing agreements between states and other parties.

His influence also extended to consultancy roles, including work with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Botswana to develop a legal instrument for the SADC Agricultural Development Fund. Furthermore, he contributed to the East African Community (EAC) by conducting a comparative analysis of the legal and regulatory regimes of investment frameworks of Partner States.

Stephen's publications and thought leadership, including his contributions to the “Africa Franchise Report: A Study of Franchising in Africa,” affirm his position as a thought leader and respected voice in the realm of international trade law and regional integration policy.

Stephen's academic journey began with a Bachelor of Law Degree with Honours (LL.B Hons) from Makerere University. He advanced his expertise with a Master's in Law (LL.M) Degree from the University of Zimbabwe, specializing in Legislative Drafting and International Economic Law. Complementing his academic prowess, Stephen holds a Post-Graduate Degree for Legal Practice and a Diploma in Legal Practice from LDC – Uganda. Fluent in English and proficient in French, he is a versatile communicator, playing a pivotal role on boards and professional bodies, including the Advisory Board of the Mauritius International Arbitration Centre and the Law Society of Uganda.