DRBF Celebrates 30 Years at Event in Lusaka

Events
23 Mar 2026

DRBF Celebrates 30 Years at Event in Lusaka

The Dispute Resolution Board Foundation marked its 30th anniversary with a high-impact side event during the Lusaka Arbitration Week in Zambia. Hosted jointly by the Lusaka International Arbitration Centre and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Zambia, the session gathered legal practitioners, project owners, and policymakers to discuss the evolving role of Dispute Boards in the region.

Key Highlights from the Session:

  • National Integration: Eng. Misheck Daka, DRBF Representative for Zambia, highlighted the increasing relevance of statutory adjudication in Zambia’s construction industry, noting its ability to resolve disputes in real-time while evidence is fresh.

  • Lender Confidence: Eng. Suzanne Rattray, member of the DRBF Region 2 Board of Directors, citing a King's College study, shared that nearly 77% of funded projects now incorporate Dispute Boards, with major backing from institutions like the World Bank and the African Development Bank.

  • Proven Success: A representative from Zambia's Road Development Agency, Eng. Chabala Chabala, reported that since 2013, Dispute Boards have successfully prevented the escalation of disputes to arbitration in eight out of nine major road projects, including the Kazungula Bridge.

  • Legal Enforceability: Mr. James Banda provided a technical overview of enforcing DAAB decisions in Zambia, emphasizing the use of the FIDIC framework and the New York Convention for arbitral enforcement.

The event concluded with forward-looking discussions on the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in adjudication and the expansion of Dispute Boards into the mining and energy sectors. The session was attended by international delegates from across Africa and North America, underscoring the growing global commitment to dispute avoidance.