A landmark initiative to advance trade law harmonisation, strengthen Kenya’s global commercial standing, and create new opportunities for legal professionals, businesses and the next generation of African commercial lawyers.
Nairobi is being proposed as the host city for the CISG Advisory Council Meeting 2026, an international initiative aimed at advancing discussions on the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and its relevance to Africa’s growing trade and investment landscape.
Led by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Ciarb) Kenya Branch, the proposed meeting would bring together leading international commercial law scholars, policymakers, members of the judiciary, legal practitioners, academics, business leaders and students to explore how a harmonised legal framework can support cross-border trade across Africa.
The proposed programme is expected to feature high-level policy discussions, a public lecture, an international conference, and a moot court competition, with dates subject to confirmation by the CISG Advisory Council organisers.
Adopted in 1980 and in force since 1988, the CISG provides a common legal framework for international contracts involving the sale of goods. It aims to reduce uncertainty arising from differences in national legal systems and establish greater predictability in cross-border commercial transactions.
As African countries deepen regional economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the need for clear, predictable and commercially responsive legal frameworks continues to grow.
Kenya’s proposed hosting of the meeting presents an opportunity to examine the potential benefits of the Convention, encourage informed policy discussions, and strengthen engagement between African institutions and the international commercial law community.
The proposed six-day programme is designed to connect international legal scholarship with practical policy, professional development and business needs.
1. Advancing Kenya’s International Trade Law Agenda
The initiative will create a platform for engagement between international experts and Kenyan government officials, the legislature, the Judiciary and private sector stakeholders on the CISG and the potential implications of Kenya’s accession to the Convention.
2. Strengthening Africa’s Trade and Investment Environment
Through discussions on harmonisation of commercial law, the programme will explore how greater legal predictability can support businesses trading across borders, facilitate investment and contribute to the development of regional markets.
3. Positioning Nairobi as a Hub for International Commercial Law
Hosting the meeting would reinforce Nairobi’s profile as a centre for international commercial law, arbitration and dispute resolution, while showcasing Kenya’s legal institutions and professional community to an international audience.
4. Creating Learning and Networking Opportunities
Legal practitioners, arbitrators, academics, policymakers and business representatives will have opportunities to exchange ideas, engage with international experts and develop professional connections across jurisdictions.
5. Empowering the Next Generation of African Lawyers
The proposed CISG moot court competition, to be organised in collaboration with Africa in the Moot, will give university students an opportunity to argue international sale-of-goods disputes before panels that include members of the CISG Advisory Council. This practical experience can help strengthen research, advocacy, legal analysis and international commercial law skills.
6. Supporting Research and Knowledge Development
The initiative aims to encourage scholarly contributions to Kenyan and African academic publications, helping expand regional understanding of the CISG and its implications for international commerce.
Subject to confirmation by the organisers, the proposed programme will feature:
The initiative will be particularly relevant to:
Ciarb Kenya Branch is proposing to coordinate the initiative in collaboration with partners drawn from government, academia, the legal profession and the private sector.
Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are envisaged across the conference, public lecture, moot court competition, delegate accommodation and other programme activities. These opportunities offer institutions and businesses a platform to support legal development, academic engagement and Africa’s participation in shaping international commercial law.
Organisations interested in sponsorship, institutional partnerships or contributing to the programme are encouraged to engage with Ciarb Kenya Branch.
Be part of the conversation shaping the future of international trade law in Africa.
Professionals, students, institutions and organisations interested in attending the conference, participating in the moot court competition, or receiving updates on the programme are invited to register their interest.
REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/DiXhUSFKMtQsJb8C9
PAYMENT DETAILS
Option 1: M-Pesa
Paybill: 975743
Acc No: CISG2026
Amount: KES 11,950
Option 2: Bank Transfer / EFT
Option 3: Cheque
For partnership and sponsorship enquiries, please contact Ciarb Kenya Branch through its official communication channels.
Ciarb Kenya Branch
Email: info@ciarbkenya.org
Telephone: +254 722 200 496 / +254 734 652 205
Together, we can advance informed dialogue, strengthen commercial legal frameworks and help shape the future of African trade.
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