THE NAIROBI CISG CONFERENCE 2026

PrideInn Azure Hotel Nairobi Westlands, Nairobi (updated prices 2026)

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12–13 November 2026

ACCORD 2026

African Conference on CISG: Opportunities, Ratification and Dialogue

Theme: Advancing Contractual Certainty and the Future of International Trade in Africa

12th–13th November 2026

PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Government | Judiciary | Business | Legal Practitioners | International Experts

The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb), Kenya Branch, invites you to the Nairobi CISG Conference 2026, a landmark gathering bringing together government leaders, members of the Judiciary, policymakers, business executives, legal practitioners, academics and international trade experts.

The conference will explore the opportunities, legal implications and practical considerations surrounding Kenya’s potential adoption of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG).

Join the conversation on strengthening contractual certainty, facilitating cross-border trade and advancing a harmonised commercial legal framework for Africa.

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About the Conference

International trade continues to expand across Africa, particularly with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). However, the legal frameworks governing cross-border commercial transactions have not evolved at the same pace.

The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) provides a common framework for international sales contracts, addressing contract formation, obligations of buyers and sellers, and remedies for breach.

With 97 Contracting States, including several of Kenya’s major trading partners, the Convention offers an opportunity to strengthen predictability and contractual certainty in international trade.

Kenya’s potential accession raises important legal, commercial and policy questions. The Nairobi CISG Conference will provide a platform for evidence-based dialogue, bringing together international experts and local stakeholders to examine these questions and consider the way forward.

What is the CISG?

The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is an international treaty adopted in Vienna in 1980 and in force since 1988.

It establishes a uniform legal framework for international commercial sales contracts, helping businesses and their trading partners understand their contractual rights and obligations.

The Convention addresses:

• Formation of international sales contracts.
• Obligations of buyers and sellers.
• Remedies available in the event of contractual breach.
• Greater predictability and certainty in cross-border transactions.
• Harmonisation of international commercial law.

The CISG is designed to facilitate international trade by providing a common set of rules for businesses operating across different legal systems.

Why Attend?

The conference offers a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions on the future of international trade law in Kenya and Africa.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Understand the legal and commercial implications of Kenya’s potential accession to the CISG.
• Engage with members of the CISG Advisory Council and leading international experts.
• Explore lessons from African and international jurisdictions that have adopted the Convention.
• Examine how the CISG interacts with international arbitration and dispute resolution.
• Discuss the role of harmonised commercial laws in supporting AfCFTA implementation.
• Contribute to policy dialogue on Kenya’s possible accession to the Convention.
• Build professional relationships with policymakers, business leaders and international practitioners.

Conference Structure: Two Days, One Conversation

The conference will take place over two days, combining a focused stakeholder roundtable with a public international conference.

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Thursday, 12th November 2026

Stakeholder Roundtable

An exclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue bringing together government, the Judiciary, Parliament, the private sector, academia and international experts to examine Kenya’s position on the CISG.

The day will also feature a masterclass on international contract drafting.

Civil Law Conference

Friday, 13th November 2026

Public Conference

A full-day conference bringing together approximately 150 delegates for keynote presentations, expert panel discussions and practical conversations on the CISG and the future of international trade in Africa.

Conference Programme and Key Discussions

The two-day programme will address the following themes:

Session 1: Kenya, International Trade and Contractual Certainty

Examining Kenya’s position in international trade and the lessons that can be drawn from other jurisdictions.

Session 2: The CISG and Kenya – Legal, Commercial and Practical Considerations

Exploring what adoption of the Convention could mean for Kenyan businesses, traders and the wider commercial sector.

Session 3: Lessons from Other Jurisdictions

Drawing insights from African and international experiences in implementing the CISG.

Masterclass: Disputes Start at the Drafting Table

A practical examination of international contract drafting and the importance of clear contractual provisions in preventing disputes.

Session 4: From Conversation to Accession

Considering the legal, institutional and policy steps Kenya would need to take should it decide to accede to the Convention.

Panel Discussion: When Trade Turns into a Dispute

Examining the relationship between the CISG and international arbitration, including its practical application in resolving cross-border commercial disputes.

About the CISG Advisory Council

The CISG Advisory Council (CISG-AC) is an independent scholarly body established in 2001 to promote the uniform interpretation and application of the CISG.

The Council comprises leading international experts in international commercial law and has observer status at UNCITRAL and UNIDROIT.

Its work includes developing authoritative scholarly opinions and declarations that support consistent interpretation of the Convention across jurisdictions.

The Council’s Nairobi meeting from 9th to 11th November 2026 will be its first meeting in East Africa and its first on the African continent since Pretoria in 2014.

The conference will provide an important opportunity for Kenyan and African perspectives to contribute directly to the Council’s ongoing work on the CISG and African States.

Expected Outcomes

The Nairobi CISG Conference 2026 seeks to deliver meaningful and lasting outcomes, including:

1. An African voice in international trade law: Bringing Kenyan and African perspectives into the CISG Advisory Council’s work.
2. An evidence-based national starting point: Documenting stakeholder discussions and recommendations to inform Kenya’s consideration of accession.
3. Regional collaboration: Strengthening dialogue among African States on harmonised commercial laws and cross-border trade.
4. Practical professional capacity: Equipping businesses and practitioners with knowledge of international sales contracts and the CISG.
5. Institutional leadership: Positioning Nairobi as an important hub for international commercial law and dispute resolution.
6. Stronger professional partnerships: Creating opportunities for collaboration between government, the Judiciary, businesses, legal institutions and international experts.

Who Should Attend?

The conference is particularly relevant to:

• Government ministries, departments and agencies.
• Members of the Judiciary and the legal profession.
• Parliamentarians and policymakers.
• Corporate lawyers and legal advisors.
• Business executives and commercial practitioners.
• Importers, exporters and international traders.
• Arbitrators, mediators and dispute resolution practitioners.
• Academics and researchers in international commercial law.
• Representatives of arbitral institutions and international organisations.

Join the Conversation

Be part of the dialogue shaping the future of international trade and commercial law in Africa.

The Nairobi CISG Conference 2026 offers an important platform to examine how a harmonised legal framework can support trade, strengthen contractual certainty and contribute to Africa’s economic integration.

ACCORD 2026

African Conference on CISG: Opportunities, Ratification and Dialogue

12–13 November 2026

PrideInn Azure Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya

Organised by: Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb), Kenya Branch.Prepare Registration Section

Website editorial note: The original concept note identifies Thursday, 12th November as the stakeholder roundtable and Friday, 13th November as the public conference. Registration links, delegate fees, speaker profiles and detailed timings can be added once confirmed.

Register Now: https://forms.gle/vBH3dpP8nYCLBuVg7