Professional Accreditation Standard

South Africa does not have a uniform standard of professional accreditation for mediators and arbitrators. Various ADR Service Providers in South Africa (both governmental and private) prescribe a wide range of standards for membership of their panels of mediators or arbitrators.

The Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement (ACDS) is in the process of formulating a comprehensive Professional Accreditation Standard for Dispute Settlement Practitioners. Research is currently being conducted by the ACDS into international best practice regarding such accreditation standards.

It is anticipated that the Professional Accreditation Standard will:

• define a minimum standard of training and experience for accreditation as a dispute settlement professional
• define additional requirements for training and experience for accreditation as a professional in a specialised field (eg family mediation)
• define a development program for aspirant professionals, that will allow them to register as trainees or interns, with a defined path towards full membership of the profession.

Interested parties are invited to comment and contribute their thoughts. Click here for our contact details. The ACDS would like to engage with all interested parties during this process.

Pending the finalization of this Standard, the Centre has adopted an interim policy with regard to accreditation of mediators.