The Africa Arbitration Academy Protocol on Virtual Hearings in Africa has been shortlisted for the GAR Pandemic Response Award 2020. This special recognition award will be handed out at GAR’s first virtual award ceremony, paying tribute to the response by the international arbitration community to the coronavirus pandemic.

In an excellent review of the Protocol by some barristers at 33Bedfordrow in London, they commended some of the innovative provisons of the Protocol inclucing the Virtual Hearing Agreement. They noted that “Given the reality that in many countries around the world, courts lack both familiarity with arbitration and trust in the suitability of online dispute resolution, the incorporation into the Protocol of the “Pre-Virtual Hearing Agreement” is a decision for which many parties will ultimately be grateful.”

The Protocol is now a reference point for parties and arbitral tribunals in Africa.