Almami Fanding Taal D.O.B: 18/09/1970- alutaal@gmail.com +2209966331; Skype Name: alfanding Education Institution SOAS- University of London, UK (2002-2003) IP3, Washington, DC; (2007) Degree(s) or Diploma(s) Master of Laws--LL.M: International Economic Law, Banking & Finance Law; Certificate of Achievement Designing Legislative, Institutional Regulatory Frameworks for Successful PPPs. IP3 Washington, DC; (2005) Certificate of Achievement Contracts Renegotiations And Disputes Resolution for PPPs. The Gambia: ( 2004-2005) Certificate as ADR Practitioner International Law Institute-ILI: June2004 Certificate in Legislative Drafting I.D.L.O, Rome-Italy: Feb-May 2002 University of Pune- India (1992-1997) University of Pune, India: 1992-1995 Diploma in International Development Law Bachelor of Laws LL.B Bachelor of Socio-Legal Sciences: B.S.L (Economics, Political Science & Sociology) PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND KEY QUALIFICATIONS Legal Practitioner with over 15 years experience in Public and Private law and a former Judge of the High Court of the Gambia. Over 10 years in senior counsel and senior management and executive positions in both the public and private sectors: served as the CEO of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and in 2007-2008 the CEO of the Gambia Divestiture Agency responsible for the privatization of the assets of the Gambia Government; provided legal advice to Ministers and Permanent Secretaries in many departments across a range of policy areas from Taxation, Trade Law, Human Rights to private sector facilitation and investment climate; drafted bills and legislation on trade, finance, and economics matters and represented the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs on the Boards of all Public Enterprises. 1 Almami Fanding Taal EMPLOYMENT HISTORY 1. Organisation: Gambia Chamber of Commerce & Industry- 2011-2013 Position: Chief Executive Officer Responsibilities Complete the construction of and move the Management and Secretariat to the first owned headquarters building of the GCCI; Lead the transformation and repositioning of the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry into the preeminent Private Sector Development organisation in the Gambia with a greater focus on Private Sector generated employment and the design and development of Public Private Partnerships frameworks for economic development. Revitalise the information and knowledge services of GCCI and increased the membership up 60% within 2 years; Increased the national and international visibility of the GCCI and signed MoUs with CII of India and DEIK of Turkey and represented the Gambia at its National Day at the World Expo Yeosu, South Korea 2012; Prepared concept notes for PPPs, Green Economy technologies and Business Incubators development in the Gambia 2. Position:Judge High Court of the Gambia-- July 2009- October 2010 Organisation: Judiciary of the Gambia Responsibilities: Hear and determine interlocutory and bail applications; Adjudicate Civil and Commercial matters before the High Court of the Gambia; Lead and manage the Court Annexed ADR Division of the High Court. 3. Position:Adjunct Law Lecturer 2007 to 2011 Organisation: the University of the Gambia Responsibilities: On the instructions of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and the Chief Justice of the Gambia I prepared a concept note for the establishment of a faculty of law at the university of the Gambia, the Concept note provided the basis for the work of Taskforce set up by the General Legal Council to facilitate the establishment of Faculty of Law in 2006. Lectured various subjects such as Labour, Land, and Succession laws, lately focused on Conveyancing, Intellectual Property Law and Company Law. Provided legal advice to all the policy Organs of the UTG and the office of the Vice Chancellor on the interpretation of Act legal texts relating to administrative and institutional matters. Draft and assist in the drafting of administrative contracts and agreements such as contracts of engagement of personnel, consultants and contracts awarded for the procurement of goods or services. 2 Almami Fanding Taal 4. Position:CEO & Director Legal and Business Development 2008-2009 & 2010-2011 Organisation: Real Time Consulting Gambia Ltd Responsibilities: Commercial and General law practice Legal, Financial and Management Consulting ; General Counsel and Board Secretary; Design, develop and manage the capacity development programmes; Lead & manage the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice; 5. Organisation :The Gambia Divestiture Agency Position Principal Legal Officer & CEO 2005-2007 Responsibilities: Managed the Privatisation Programme of the Gambia Government and supervised seven professional staff; Regulation and supervision of all Public Enterprises; Draft Cabinet and other Policy Papers, Contracts, Notices, Orders and Directives for Public Enterprises and monitoring of compliance with the relevant terms; Served as the Secretary to the Board of the Agency and served on all the Boards of the Public Enterprises as the representative of the Ministry of finance. 6. Organisation :Attorney General’s Chambers & Ministry of Justice, 2003—2005 Position: Curator of Intestate Estates Responsibilities: Head of Department and Administrator General of Intestate estates, receiverships, bankruptcies and trusteeships in the Gambia, managed over 2000 estates and supervised eight staff. Applied for Letters of Administration from the High Court of the Gambia; managed properties, invested in bank schemes, bought Treasury Bills on behalf of estates. Organisation:Positions: Responsibilities: Attorney General’s Chambers & Ministry of Justice-1999-2002; Senior State Counsel Practised law before Courts of unlimited jurisdiction in both civil and criminal matters; Prepared pleadings and represented the government in Civil Suits before the High Court; Advised on the interpretation of International Law and provided legal opinions to Secretaries of State on Trade, Investment Climate, Competition and Regulation issues; Represented Government in bilateral and multilateral negotiations, on climate change, economic development and trade related matters; Drafted and participated in the drafting of key legislation on governance and economic development; 7. Organisation:Attorney General’s Chambers & Ministry of Justice-1997-1999; Positions: Public Prosecutor/ State Counsel Responsibilities: Guided and gave directions on Police investigations and prosecutions; Prosecuted criminal cases before the Magistrate’s Courts; Prepared and vetted legal opinions on civil and criminal matters; 3 Almami Fanding Taal 1. Key skills: Legal Specialist and adviser to the Gateway Project of the Gambia, 2006-2008; Director of Legal and Business Development at Real Time Consulting, a private consulting firm that I set up with partners; Legal Adviser to National Association of Credit Unions of the Gambia NACCUG since 2008;Legal Adviser to the Managing Director of EMHOLDING company Gambia. Legal Counsel in Loan Negotiation Teams of the Gambia Government with BADEA and the African Development Bank; have worked on a wide variety of commercial agreements involving the acquisition, sale, financing and other handling of Government assets. Strategic Management skills for-profit and not-for-profit organisations in both the public and private sectors of the Gambia. Pro-Bono work: Chairman of the Board of Gambia Press Union School of Journalism; President of the Writers Association of the Gambia; Chairman of the National Copyright Commission; Chairman of the National Youth Council; Chairman of the Kora Foundation; Board member of the Gambia Public Works Agency and Treasurer of the Gambia Bar Association 2008-2009;. Areas of expertise include:  Completed courses on the Management, Accounting and Public-Private-Partnerships;  Completed a course in Legislative drafting from the International Law Institute April – June 2004;  Completed a postgraduate diploma Course in International Development Law I.D.L.O, Rome-ItalyFebruary- May 2002;  Received training in Public Sector Reform at the ILO, Turin, Italy and a Study Tour in Maastricht, Netherlands, July 2004).  Completed a course on Human Rights Reporting at the International Training Centre, ILO TurinItaly 2000.  Civil Society Empowerment (building the capacity of Civil Society professionals to provide legal aid and access to justice for rural communities);  planning, organising and conducting legal and human rights training for Journalists, Cadis, police, prosecutors;  design and implementation of capacity building and training for staff of human rights organisations and non-state actors;  Working with non-state alternative dispute resolution mechanisms (customary dispute resolution).  Experience in conducting evaluations of projects, including extensive desk review of project documentation; design of evaluation methodology (peer review, focus groups, case studies; field visits; questionnaires etc); interview of project stakeholders; facilitation of workshops on final report.  Excellent report writing skills developed through years of work with a variety of national, governmental and non-governmental organisations. 4 Almami Fanding Taal RECENT ASSIGNMENTS  Led as the CEO of GCCI, the operationalization of the ECOWAS Protocol on Inter-State Road Transit Scheme-ISRT in the Gambia with the Chamber of Commerce as National Guarantor of the Scheme; Lead National Legal Counsel for the establishment of a Public-Private Partnership and the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle to serve as successor to Gamtel as the designated landing party for the ACE submarine cable in the Gambia: World Bank\ Government of the Gambia Project—WARCIP. Wrote the concept note as the Secretary of the General Legal Council for the establishment of the law faculty of the University of the Gambia and designed, developed and lectured in 5 courses; Designing and implementing projects in Human Rights Education, Legal Aid and Access to Justice; (Action-Aid the Gambia, US State Department, UNDP The Gambia African Centre For Democracy and Human Rights Studies, the Gambia Press Union);    Membership of Professional Bodies & Associations: 1. 2. 3. 4. The Gambia Bar Association (admitted to practice in Dec 1998 by the General Legal Council of the Gambia); Founder Member of the Foundation for Legal Aid, Research & Empowerment since 2005; Red Cross Society of the Gambia; US State Department IVLP Alumni Association of the Gambia; Writing, Papers & Publications:      Rule of Law and Human Rights Columnist for the Point Newspaper , a daily leading national newspaper, January –September 2009 @ thepoint.gm; Drafted the Gambia’s Divestiture Manual, as the Principal Legal officer of the Agency in 2005: Prepared an ADR Manual with modules on Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration for the National ADR Secretariat in Banjul the Gambia 2011; Protecting Intellectual Property Rights through Copyright law in the Gambia; Regional Legal Instruments and Mechanisms for the Promotion, Protection and Advancement of Human Rights of Women and Girls In Africa: April 2011; 2. Other relevant information: President of the Writers Association of the Gambia; Chairman of the Board of Directors Gambia Press Union School of Journalism; US State Department’s International Visitor’s Leadership Program- IVLP-Alumnus Sept 2007 Part Time Lecturer in Contracts, Evidence and Banking and Finance Law at the Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI) & Management Development Institute (MDI) of the Gambia, 2005-2007;  Specialist Interests and Executive Training: Trade and Intellectual Property Laws, Regulation of Public Utilities, Corporate Governance and Public- Private- Partnership & Human Rights, Access to Justice Legal Aid.  Scholarships: For both undergraduate and graduate courses, was also awarded UN Fellowship for the International Law Seminar in Geneva-1999.  Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Foundation for Legal Aid, Research and Empowerment--FLARE—2005-Todate: the first and only local Civil Society Organisation to provide free legal aid, empowerment and human rights advocacy services in the Gambia.     5