Over the past two years, I have had the extraordinary privilege of witnessing, from the front row, the emergence of a new kind of legal partnership — one grounded in respect, equality, and genuine institutional friendship. The African-German Arbitration Cooperation (AfGAC) is more than a project. It is a platform, a network, and increasingly, a movement. It began with an idea — those German businesses operating in Africa and African businesses engaging internationally need robust, local arbitration systems that command both legal and commercial confidence. That idea has since grown into a thriving partnership between leading arbitration institutions in Africa and Germany, all working together to build lasting capacity and mutual trust.
The journey formally began in Nairobi in 2023, where a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between four founding institutions: the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration (NCIA), the Kigali International Arbitration Centre (KIAC), the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), and the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce. At the time, I had just started working at the LawCom Institute, and I had the opportunity to help shape the MoU — not as a symbolic agreement, but as a living framework that would go on to shape policy, training, and institutional cooperation across borders.
From the very start, we were intentional about listening. Before launching a single training, we travelled to Kenya, Rwanda, and Egypt, meeting directly with arbitration stakeholders. We sat with Ministers of Justice, Chief Justices, and judges at all levels. We met with legal practitioners, bar associations, arbitration centres, commercial courts, university deans, and the business community. We also spoke with representatives of development cooperation agencies and bilateral partners. These consultations shaped every part of the AfGAC model. They helped us understand institutional needs, gaps in capacity, local challenges, and the aspiration many African institutions share: to grow arbitration ecosystems that serve both local and international users — with competence, credibility, and independence.
As part of this process, we convened our partner institutions not only to exchange ideas, but to lay the foundations of this cooperation together. These moments of shared vision and strategy have been central to AfGAC’s growth — anchoring it in the priorities of its partners and ensuring that it remains responsive to real institutional needs on the continent. At our foundational workshop in Nairobi, we collaboratively built a training curriculum grounded in those needs, and we agreed on a shared vision for increasing institutional visibility — including the development of a dedicated website to support that goal.
This vision was generously supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented through Sequa gGmbH. What made their support stand out was not only the funding, but the approach. BMZ insisted that this cooperation be carried out on an equal footing. African and German partners were seen not as donor and recipient, but as peers. This principle — of working “at eye level” — has been at the heart of everything we’ve done. And it is precisely this model that has allowed AfGAC to flourish.
In 2023, AfGAC entered its most active phase — training. In Nairobi, Kigali and Huye we have delivered arbitration trainings to judges, lawyers, engineers, and private sector actors. We used what we now call the twin-training model — pairing leading African experts with seasoned members of the Hamburg Arbitration Circle (HAC). This model ensures that training content is rooted both in international standards and local context. We explored key topics like institutional and ad hoc arbitration, enforcement of awards, drafting of clauses, interim measures, international rules (such as UNCITRAL and OHADA), and emerging areas like ESG disputes and climate-related arbitration.
In Cairo, the partnership with CRCICA allowed us to conduct regional trainings for North African lawyers — ensuring that AfGAC’s reach is truly continental. Across the board, feedback was consistently positive. Participants appreciated the blend of comparative law, practical tools, and interactive formats.
AfGAC’s commitment to inclusion and youth engagement is also central to its impact. In Nairobi, we hosted a Women in Arbitration Breakfast, bringing together judges, lawyers, academics, and young professionals to explore pathways for leadership, mentorship, and structural reform. In 2023, we supported the Vis Pre-Moot in Hamburg, enabling students from Strathmore University and University of Lagos to engage in international mooting. These were not symbolic activities — they are part of a long-term strategy to nurture the next generation of African arbitration professionals. In August 2025, we will proudly support the Women in Arbitration Moot (WADR), and we continue to work with the Africa in the Moot network to offer opportunities for students continent-wide.
A key legacy of the AfGAC initiative lies in the empowerment of young professionals and student-led initiatives. One such example is Law & Behold, a student collective that was actively incorporated into our training activities. What began as participation in our sessions has since evolved into leadership: today, they are independently organising arbitration events, facilitating discussions, and building a vibrant arbitral community within their academic and professional circles. Drawing on the networks and institutional relationships forged through AfGAC, these students are not only deepening engagement with arbitration but are also shaping the future of the field — grounded in local realities and driven by a spirit of initiative and collaboration.
Now, as we move forward, we are excited to announce the upcoming launch of the official AfGAC website. This dynamic platform will not only provide access to training materials, event announcements, institutional contacts, and collaboration opportunities, but will also feature practical tools such as a claims submission portal and cost calculators for partner arbitration institutions. By centralizing these resources, the website will enhance the visibility of our partner institutions, facilitate user engagement, and serve as a permanent, accessible knowledge base — ensuring that the content and connections built through this cooperation continue to thrive across borders and generations.
From where I sit, however, the heart of AfGAC is not only the curriculum, but the people behind it — especially those from the Hamburg Arbitration Circle. Their commitment has been unmatched. These are experienced professionals and academics who frequently give up billable time, cover their own costs, and commit themselves wholeheartedly to the mission of AfGAC. Their contribution goes beyond teaching. They mentor, connect, and listen. In particular, Prof. Dr Antje Baumann has been an engine behind this work. She is indefatigable — deeply committed, incredibly generous, and unwavering in her belief in the potential of African arbitration institutions. Without her leadership and care, AfGAC would not be what it is today.
I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of other international figures who have given their time and thought leadership to AfGAC’s development. Prof. Dr. Stefan Kröll brought decades of practical and academic experience into our sessions, strengthening our comparative perspective. Prof. Emilia Onyema has been a guiding voice for African-led arbitration, offering insights grounded in scholarship and practice. Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili brought strategic clarity and vision — reminding us that arbitration must not only serve commerce but broader public goals like fairness, accountability, and inclusion.
None of this would have been possible without the extraordinary dedication of our team at the LawCom Institute. I am especially grateful to Linnéa Harting, our brilliant Program Manager and the true engine behind this cooperation — her tireless commitment, strategic thinking, and calm leadership have been the glue holding this initiative together. I also wish to sincerely thank Dr Jan Curschmann and Mr. Jochen Mehmel, whose guidance, trust, and unwavering support have been essential to our work. My deepest appreciation also goes to Dr Ulrike, Ms. Clara, Ms. Catalina, and Ms. Veruschka, whose professionalism, kindness, and behind-the-scenes effort have ensured that every detail — from planning to execution — ran smoothly. Importantly, my gratitude goes to Mr Christian Langer and Ms Sonja Konig, whose management of the program and ensuring a smooth run have been invaluable. It has been a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated and visionary team.
From this front row, I have learned that true legal cooperation cannot be imposed. It must be built — slowly, respectfully, and with shared commitment. AfGAC is a living example of that. In just one year of active programming, we have reached hundreds of professionals, trained judges and students, funded moots, built networks of trust, and created a replicable model for international cooperation. And all of this — remarkably — has happened without hierarchy, without ego, and without pretence.
Sitting on the front row of this journey has given me a vantage point few are lucky to have. I’ve seen this initiative grow from a legal concept to a living, breathing community of institutions and individuals committed to justice, excellence, and meaningful exchange. I’ve watched senior judges and students learn side by side, and global experts walk shoulder to shoulder with local practitioners — not out of charity, but solidarity. It has reminded me that true cooperation doesn’t require hierarchy, just humility and shared purpose. From this seat, I have come to believe that the future of international arbitration is not only African-involved — it is African-shaped. And I’m proud to keep watching, building, and learning from right here, on the front row.
As we look to the future, I am more convinced than ever that this is what meaningful, equitable international cooperation should look like. One built on partnership, generosity, and vision. I’m deeply grateful to all our partner institutions — NCIA, KIAC, CRCICA, HCC, HAC, BMZ, Sequa — and to the extraordinary community that has emerged around this initiative. This is only the beginning.
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If you’d like to learn more about AfGAC, partner with us, or support future programming, please stay tuned for the launch of our website or contact us directly.
John Nyanje – is a consultant at the Hamburg-based think tank, LawCom Institute, which is responsible for implementing the AfGAC project.