2024 Environmental Protection Dialogue: Official Opening
HRH Dr. Chief Mumena is one of the Zambia’s most respected traditional leaders. He has presided over the 60 000-strong Mumena clan for almost 12 years. Chief Mumena is the traditional leader of the Kaonde people in Zambia’s North-Western Province. The Kaonde, a Bantu-speaking group, are known for their rich cultural heritage, sustainable farming practices, and close connection to land and natural resources. Chief Mumena is a respected traditional leader known for his progressive leadership, at the forefront of promoting sustainable development, environmental stewardship and social justice while advocating for equitable benefits for local communities impacted by mining activities in Zambia’s resource rich region.
Mr. Laurent Rudasingwa – Is the Deputy Resident Representative in Zambia at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) based in Lusaka, Zambia. Prior to this, he held the same positions in the Central African Republic for almost 3 years, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo for 3.5 years and in Chad for 18 months. With over 22 years of experience, Rudasingwa has held various leadership roles, including programme management, senior advisory positions, and technical functions within NGOs and the United Nations system.
UNDP works with the Government and people of Zambia to achieve the vision 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of Government’s development plans. UNDP work in the country, is guided corporately by the UNDP Strategic Plan, the United Nations Sustainable Development Partnership Framework and our Country Programme Document (CPD). UNDP are structured around four distinct and yet interlinked programmatic areas; environment and energy, governance and gender, inclusive growth and SDGs; and health systems strengthening for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Mr. Mike Mposha from Minister of Green Economy and Environment
H.E Karolina Stasiak – Is the Ambassador of the European Union to Zambia and COMESA.
Ms. Maggie Mapalo Mwape – Executive Director
Ms. Maggie Mapalo Mwape is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Environment Justice. She has over 10years work experience in community development, the environment and climate action. She is an Environmentalist, Business Administrator and Human Resource Practitioner.
Fadima Cissé – Africa Director Communications
Greenpeace is a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green, just, and joyful future
Mr. Andrew Raine – Is the Deputy Director of the Law Division at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) based in Washington, District of Columbia. He helps lead a global team in the progressive development and implementation of environmental rule of law.
UNEP is the leading global authority on the environment. UNEP’s mission is to inspire, inform, and enable nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. For over 50 years, UNEP has worked with governments, civil society, the private sector and UN entities to address humanity’s most pressing environmental challenges – from restoring the ozone layer to protecting the world’s seas and promoting a green, inclusive economy.
UNEP is driving transformational change by drilling down on the root causes of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss and pollution. UNEP’s work is focused on helping countries transition to low-carbon and resource-efficient economies, strengthening environmental governance and law, safeguarding ecosystems, and providing evidence-based data to inform policy decisions.
Mr. Vitalice Meja is the Executive Director of the Reality of Aid Africa. He is a seasoned development professional with over 20 years’ experience in development work. His expertise is on policy analysis and research on development economics and capacity building, advocacy, institutional strengthening and program management with focus on Civil Society Organizations.
The Reality of Aid Africa Network is a Pan African initiative focusing on analysis and lobbying and advocating for poverty eradication policies in the international aid system and development co-operation. We seek to strengthen the involvement of African civil society organisations in the policy reform on the international aid architecture as well as development co-operation.
