Joint Educative Programme Promoting Mediation Awareness During Tanzania’s First ADR Week 2026

From 13 April to 17 April 2026, Tanzania marked a significant development in its justice system with the first-ever ADR Week, coordinated by the judiciary through the High Court Mediation Center. This national initiative brought together key institutions and practitioners to promote Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), with a strong emphasis on mediation as an effective, accessible, and efficient mechanism for resolving disputes.

The foundations for this milestone were laid during the official launch on 9 April 2026. At that event, ESS Creative and Legal Foundation, through its Executive Director, Erick Mukiza, an accredited mediator, proposed the introduction of joint public education programs. The proposal focused on increasing public awareness of mediation by clearly explaining how it works, its benefits, and where such services can be accessed. This proposal was not only acknowledged but also implemented during ADR Week.

Throughout the week, ESS collaborated closely with the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs, the High Court Mediation Center, the Attorney General's Office, and other ADR stakeholders to conduct coordinated public education campaigns. These efforts were delivered through various platforms, including direct community engagement and media outreach, ensuring that the public received practical and accurate information about when to consider mediation, its advantages over litigation, and how to access services.

Erick Mukiza, an accredited mediator together with Nuru Mwambemba, the Principle State Attorney from the Ministry of Constitutional and Legal Affairs ADR Unit sharing Knowlege on how to improve mediation services in Tanzania  

A key highlight of ADR Week was the direct involvement of ESS in court-annexed mediation. Under the assignment of Hon. Zahra Maruma, Judge in Charge of the High Court Mediation Center, Erick Mukiza conducted mediation sessions at the Judicial TEMEKE One Stop Center for Probate and Family Matters. Three cases were handled during this period, and all were successfully resolved through mediation. As a result, the parties voluntarily withdrew their cases from the courts, demonstrating the practical effectiveness of mediation in reducing case backlog and delivering timely justice.

Erick Mukiza, an accredited mediator conducting a court-annexed mediation session of a couple who were having a family dispute at the Judicial TEMEKE One Stop Center for Probate and Family Matters

In addition to court-annexed mediation, ADR Week introduced another important development. For the first time in Tanzania, private mediation sessions were conducted at High Court Mediation Center venues before the formal filing of cases in court. This initiative, implemented through collaboration between the judiciary and private mediators, represents a significant step toward institutional recognition of private mediation practice. It has contributed to strengthening public confidence, as individuals can now directly observe the professionalism and effectiveness of private mediators operating in coordination with the judiciary.

ESS and its partners also extended their outreach through national media platforms, further amplifying public awareness. These engagements ensured that information about mediation reached a broader audience beyond those directly interacting with the courts.

The outcomes of ADR Week 2026 provide clear evidence of the role mediation can play in improving access to justice in Tanzania. The successful resolution of disputes, increased public awareness, and strengthened collaboration between public institutions and private practitioners all point to a sustainable path forward.