Peter Kasanda is an international lawyer specialising in Project Finance for the infrastructure, commodity & mining, energy, telecoms and power sectors. As a projects lawyer, he builds roads, ports, airports and other key infrastructure, with the singular goal of assisting the development of Africa.
He currently Chair’s the Africa Committee of the international law firm Clyde & Co.
Peter’s father was born in Kasama, Zambia in 1938. His mother was born on Mpanda, mine, Kitavi region, Tanzania in 1938.
Peter was born in Lusaka, Zambia in 1976. Peter’s father was a Zambian civil servant and diplomat, representing the Republic of Zambia as its Ambassador to over 16 jurisdictions, including the Soviet Union, China, France, Germany, Republic of Korea, Vietnam, The United Nations and several others.
Peter is a dual Zambian and British national. His wife is Ethiopian and an economist in the development sector. His family are permanently based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, although Peter travels frequently, with bases in UK, UAE, Europe and Asia, depending on where investors into Africa require attention.
Peter is qualified in England & Wales, Tanzania and seeks qualification in Zambia. He speaks English, French, and basic Swahili, Bemba and Mandarin.
Peter has worked for both the private and public sector including stints at the African Development Bank where he undertook private sector focused projects. Peter was consequential as a secondee to the African Development Bank in the drafting of the foundation, governance documents of the African Legal Support Facility.
At an international law firm in London, Peter identified a gap in understanding between the public and private sectors. A lack of capacity within Government was a key obstacle for closing bankable infrastructure and energy projects in Africa.
Without knowing in detail the structures and underlying international documents, how could the Government trust the private sector in long term contracts and concessions, often for 30 or more years? His solution was to get close to the African public sector, not withdraw from it. Why? Because he knows and understands it.
Similarly, the international private sector does not sufficiently understand the African public sector and its priorities, which often includes (1) the alleviation of poverty, (2) the enhancement of food security and (3) education – rather than basic tax revenue and visible infrastructure.
He began his own initiative capacity building with State Attorneys across Africa by offering training on his specialism of project finance. Since 2003, he has successfully capacity built in over 18 African countries. Good governance and capacity building are at the centre of Peter’s core values. His ultimate goal is to do capacity building in all 53 African countries.
With an esteemed career as a projects lawyer, Peter consistently represents the private sector in high-impact initiatives. He brings a rare depth of insight into public sector dynamics, informed by decades of international experience. In many parts of Africa, where public institutions are relatively young, there remains hesitation in entrusting responsibilities to the private sector. Peter has earned the trust of governments by actively supporting their goals—driving poverty alleviation and strengthening food security through sustainable private sector development.
IT’S 18 COUNTRIES AROUND THE AFRICAN CONTINENT
DUAL QUALIFIED IN THE UK AND TANZANIA
Peter is committed to the cause of capacity building on the African continent in his spare time, closing the gap between the public and private sectors. Please note that the capacity building being offered is free of any charges. Peter is dedicated to providing entirely free legal services to both the public and private sectors.
We have received recommendation letters from Governments with whom we have worked.
These are available upon request.
Peter is up front and transparent with his private sector clients that he has been capacity building with African governments since 2001. The response is overwhelmingly positive. Peter flags that he will be mindful of potential conflicts at all material times.
The Peter Kasanda Foundation has a distinguished Advisory Board, including:
Mark Fenhalls KC. Since being appointed a QC in 2014, Mark has held a unique combination of elected leadership roles at the Bar of England & Wales, serving as Chair of the Criminal Bar Association (2015-16), Leader of the South Eastern Circuit (2019-20), and in 2022 as Chair of the Bar of England and Wales.
Honourable Abdulrahman Kinana. Honourable Kinana served as the first Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly from 2001 to 2006. He has also been secretary-general of Chama Cha Mapinduzi, the ruling party of the United Republic of Tanzania, from 2012 to 2018.
Should you be a public or private sector entity seeking advice on capacity building, please use the contact details below:
PETER KASANDA
DORIS KAAYA
KOFI ANNAN