Financial Assistance Fund

The PCA has a Financial Assistance Fund which aims at helping developing countries meet part of the costs involved in international arbitration or other means of dispute settlement offered by the PCA.

In October 1994, the Administrative Council agreed to establish a Financial Assistance Fund which aims at helping developing countries meet part of the costs involved in international arbitration or other means of dispute settlement offered by the PCA.

A “Qualifying State” may seek such financial assistance by submitting a written request to the Secretary-General. Qualifying States are Contracting Parties to the Convention of 1899 or 1907 that:

• have concluded an agreement for the purpose of submitting one or more disputes, whether existing or future, for settlement by any of the means administered by the PCA; and
• at the time of requesting financial assistance from the fund, are listed on the “DAC List of Aid Recipients” prepared by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Financial Assistance Fund Board of Trustees currently consists of:

• The Honorable L. Yves Fortier, PC, CC, OQ, QC (former Ambassador to the United Nations, arbitrator and Chair of the World Bank Sanctions Board);
• Sir Kenneth Keith (former Judge of the International Court of Justice);
• The Honorable Bernardo Sepúlveda-Amor (former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice);
• Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf (Judge of the International Court of Justice);
• The Honorable Ms. Aruna Narain (Puisne Judge of the Mauritius Supreme Court).

The Financial Assistance Fund Terms of Reference & Guidelines can be downloaded from the Documents and Resources section.