I’m super excited to have been shortlisted for the 2020 African Arbitration Awards (AAA). To everyone who must have voted for me, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart because without you I would not have been shortlisted. Una Vez más, Muchos Gracias! Dallu rinne!! Merci Beaucoup!!! Danku!! 

A friend of mine told me that to be shortlisted is an outstanding achievement and I couldn’t agree more.

What you need to know about the African Arbitration Association (AfAA):

The AfAA was established in 1998, and its headquarters is located at Kigali, Rwanda. 

Its overriding objectives are as follows:

(a)  to act as the platform for African international arbitration practitioners and African arbitration institutions within the African continent to enhance the capacity of African parties, institutions and practitioners;

(b)   to act as a reference point for information concerning activities in international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution within the African continent;

(c)   to increase coordination amongst its members in respect of Africa-related international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution activities;

(d)   to provide greater access to information about international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution in Africa;

(e)  to promote African international arbitration practitioners and African arbitration institutions within and outside the African continent;

(f)    to facilitate and encourage the appointment of African international arbitration practitioners and the use of African arbitration institutions;

(g)   to advance the use of international arbitration and alternative dispute resolution as effective methods of dispute resolution of Africa-related transactions and disputes;

(h)   to support the provision of technical assistance, awareness-raising and capacity-building activities to African governments to assist them in their task of strengthening the legislative and judicial frameworks in the field of arbitration and other means of dispute resolution; and

(i)   to enhance awareness of existing capacity-building initiatives, to increase coordination in delivering technical assistance and capacity-building activities, and to improve cooperation among international and regional organisations, arbitral institutions, academic institutions and professional associations throughout the African continent.

In sum, the AfAA is a non-profit private organisation, and its members are successful African arbitrators, ADR practitioners, African arbitration institutions with the clear vision of enlightening and promoting dispute resolution in the African Continent. In the past, most of the headline on ADR was mainly centred on western ADR. Embracing the words of Adichie on the dangers of a single story and the need for a balanced story. Hence, I believe the AfAA has changed the narrative by providing insights into African Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution cutting across Africa. Indeed it’s now a ‘balanced story.’

Reference:

AfAA Website.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the danger of a single story (Ted talks: Youtube 2009).