An Inauguration Ceremony for a project for improving access to Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, in Amhara, took place in the Bahir Dar Alternative Dispute Resolution Center on Saturday 4 December 2010. This project was funded by the Japanese Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), amounting to USD 96,973.

H.E. Mr. Hiroyuki KISHINO, Ambassador of Japan to Ethiopia, and Mr. Daisuke KOMORI, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, celebrated the completion of the Center, together with H.E. Ato Ayalew Gobeze, the President of the Amhara Regional State, representatives of the Bahir Dar City, as well as members of the community.

The Embassy of Japan has supported the construction of the ADR Center, including a large hall, two mediation offices, one administration office, two toilets and one store, and has also provided furniture for the Center. This Center is aimed at expanding ADR, Alternative Dispute Resolution, services in appropriate circumstances for people in Bahir Dar regardless of religion or gender. This ADR service is particularly useful for poor people and women who have private problems (such as family disputes, land disputes and other related private problems) and who cannot have easy access to the court due to the cost and the long process required.

This project has been implemented by the Ethiopian Arbitration and Conciliation Center that has managed 17 centers throughout Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa, Awasa, Dire Dawa, Mekele, and Nazaret in order to promote ADR services in population for poor people since 2004.