MALAWI – The Chandler Institute of Justice (CIJ) has developed an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Framework for Malawi, designed to strengthen the country's capacity to resolve conflicts at the community level. The framework provides structured mechanisms for addressing disputes locally, enabling communities to find resolution before conflicts escalate to formal legal or judicial processes.

Embedding Justice in Communities

Across Malawi, as in many developing countries, formal justice systems face significant pressure: high caseloads, limited resources, and the practical and financial barriers that prevent many citizens from accessing courts. Community-level dispute resolution offers a proven and effective complement to formal systems, one that is faster, more accessible, and better placed to preserve relationships and social cohesion within communities.

CIJ's ADR Framework provides a structured, principled approach to community dispute resolution. It establishes clear processes and accountability mechanisms to ensure that disputes are handled fairly, consistently, and in a manner that communities trust. By embedding dispute resolution capacity at the grassroots level, the framework strengthens social cohesion and reduces pressure on Malawi's formal justice institutions, freeing courts and prosecutors to focus on the cases that most require their attention.

A Foundation for Accessible Justice

The development of the ADR Framework reflects CIJ's commitment to building justice systems that work for everyone, not just those with the means to navigate formal legal processes. It also recognises a fundamental truth about governance: justice is most durable when it is owned by the communities it serves.

Accessible justice is not a luxury. It is the foundation of stable, cohesive societies.