Alternative Dispute Research Interest Group -

Alternative Dispute Resolution Research Interest Group

School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)

Mission

The ADR Research Interest Group at UKZN is dedicated to promoting African-centered, contextually relevant, and transformative scholarship in the field of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Our mission is to explore, advance, and apply dispute resolution mechanisms that are not only legally sound but also culturally resonant and socially responsive. We aim to support accessible, efficient, and equitable methods for resolving disputes that reflect both indigenous African values and global legal norms.

Vision

We envision an Africa where communities, legal professionals, and institutions embrace ADR as a viable and preferred method of resolving disputes—one that emphasizes healing, consensus, dignity, and justice. Our vision includes the development of robust ADR systems that resonate with both traditional African principles and modern legal frameworks, ultimately contributing to peace, social cohesion, and sustainable development.

African-Centered Approach to ADR

From an African perspective, dispute resolution is not merely a legal process but a deeply communal, restorative, and culturally grounded practice. In many African societies, elders, chiefs, or community mediators have long played critical roles in resolving conflicts through dialogue, consensus, and reconciliation—focusing not only on the rights of individuals but on restoring harmony within families and communities.

The ADR Research Interest Group acknowledges and integrates these indigenous practices into contemporary legal discourse. We explore the intersections between customary law, restorative justice, and formal legal processes, challenging Eurocentric dominance in legal scholarship and affirming the value of African jurisprudence.

Core Objectives and Goals

Research Excellence

Foster critical and interdisciplinary research on both formal and informal ADR practices, with particular attention to African legal traditions and postcolonial legal reform.
Support postgraduate research and publications that highlight ADR in diverse African contexts, including rural, urban, and cross-border settings.

Access to Justice and Community Engagement

Engage with communities, traditional leaders, NGOs, and mediators to bridge the gap between academic research and lived realities.
Promote ADR literacy and build capacity for dispute resolution within under-served populations, with a focus on empowering women, youth, and workers.

Curriculum Development and Teaching Innovation

Strengthen ADR offerings in the UKZN Law curriculum through skills-based learning, clinical programmes, and accredited mediation training.
Develop teaching materials that reflect African case studies, customary law practices, and comparative international perspectives.

Policy Development and Legal Reform

Influence national and regional policies by contributing research to law reform processes, especially those involving family law, employment law, international trade, business, and access to justice.
Advocate for the formal recognition and integration of African customary dispute resolution mechanisms within legal frameworks.

Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Engagement

Collaborate with other UKZN research interest groups (e.g., Child Law, Private Law, Gender and the Law) and external partners across the continent.
Foster partnerships with African regional institutions such as the African Union, SADC, ECOWAS, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat.

Strategic Focus Areas

Family Law Mediation (including custody, parental alienation, and child maintenance)
Employment and Labour Disputes, including CCMA-related research, informal sector grievances, and trade union negotiation
Business Law, with a focus on commercial mediation, corporate governance, and dispute resolution in the context of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
International Trade Law and Cross-border ADR, particularly in relation to AfCFTA, commercial arbitration, and investor-state disputes
Customary and Indigenous Dispute Resolution, including restorative justice, traditional leadership systems, and legal pluralism
Community Mediation and Transitional Justice
Gender-sensitive ADR practices, addressing power dynamics and systemic inequality within dispute resolution
Digital ADR and Access to Justice Technologies

Membership and Participation

The ADR Research Interest Group welcomes participation from legal academics, postgraduate students, community-based practitioners, and regional stakeholders. Members are encouraged to contribute to ongoing research, training, policy advocacy, and public engagement efforts.