Using African Engineering ADR Practitioners in Resolving Infrastructure Project Disputes Under the AfCFTA Protocol

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is an important initiative aimed at the integration and development of Africa. This trade initiative provides an opportunity for engineering enterprises in the development of infrastructure projects which are important developmental requirements. With almost all human endeavors disputes are likely to arise. Disputes related to infrastructure projects and engineering enterprise can be complex creating delays in progress, escalated cost and sometimes wasted funds. This paper explores the possibility of strategically employing the expertise of African engineering ADR practitioners in the resolution of such disputes when they arise. It suggests that ADR practitioners with expert knowledge of the subject of disputes are best placed to resolve such disputes. It explores mechanisms for encouraging African engineers to be ADR practitioners to create enough capacity to deal with these disputes when they arise. This paper relies on secondary sources. It explores how African ADR centers can be strategically supported to help the AfCFTA initiative in using African Engineering ADR practitioners who are affiliated with these Centres. It suggests that to deliver these, targeted training, policy changes and strategic collaboration is required to realise these goals. Keywords: African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Infrastructure Projects.