The African Legal Support Facility (ALSF) is an international organization dedicated to providing legal advice and technical assistance to regional member countries in matters pertaining to creditor litigation and complex commercial transactions. The ALSF was created as a response to calls from African finance ministers for assistance in these key areas. The goal of the ALSF is to remove asymmetric technical capacities and level the field of legal expertise among parties to litigation and negotiations.

The ALSF strives to further development in Africa by removing obstacles to realizing the benefits of debt relief through its work in Vulture Fund litigation. The ALSF also provides advisory services to improve the negotiating capabilities of its member countries. Through all of its activities the ALSF aims to build additional legal capacity on the continent. The ALSF has officially approved three projects. The current pipeline includes 15 additional requests, with 14 of these requests related to negotiations.

Membership in the ALSF is open to all sovereign nations, the African Development Bank (AfDB), and other international organizations. Currently, 42 member countries and 3 international organizations have signed the Treaty Establishing the ALSF. The ALSF is actively recruiting additional members and support for its operations.

The ALSF is currently supported by voluntary contributions and allocations of net income from the AfDB and income accruing from the ALSF’s endowment fund (the AfDB contributed an initial US$16 million to help establish the Facility). The ALSF is currently hosted by the AfDB, but operates independently and maintains the same privileges and immunities of other international organizations.

A Governing Council and Management Board represented by leading highly respected legal and financial experts oversee the ALSF. The staff of the ALSF consists of a Director and internationally trained and qualified legal professionals.