The Arbitration Fund for African States (AFAS) is a UK registered Charity founded by Prof Emilia Onyema of SOAS University of London to advance education in the knowledge, skills, techniques, use and methods of arbitration with particular focus on African students and young practitioners. In 2023, AFAS approached Arbitral Women to fund as part of its “New Initiatives Award” to part fund a pilot scheme for in-country introduction to arbitration and ADR for university and senior High School students in four African countries. This program was delivered by AFAS with financial support from Arbitral Women and Onyema Arbitration Services Ltd in 2024 in Accra (Ghana), Kampala (Uganda), Arusha (Tanzania), and Kigali (Rwanda) to approximately 400 students who continue to meet under the banner of AFAS ADR Clubs. Our thanks to Arbitral Women!
Two off-shoots from this project are the annual Arbitration and ADR summer school held virtually; and the second is the annual writing competition which is open to the university students.
AFAS intends to expand this program to other African countries. We are very grateful for this recognition of our work to ensure an inclusive method of the pipeline into our profession. This award encourages us in our work and we hope that some of you will support this work.
Thank you!
