Dispute Resolution Foundation JA

What Dispute Resolution Foundation JA does

Dispute Resolution Foundation JA (DRF), founded July 11, 1994, is a Jamaican not-for-profit organization incorporated under the Companies Act and headquartered at 1A North Avenue, Kingston 4, St. Andrew. The organization is the recognized leading provider of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, operating 18 Peace & Justice Centres across all 14 parishes and delivering services into 8 Caribbean territories including Belize, Haiti, Trinidad & Tobago, The Bahamas, Guyana, Barbados, and OECS states. DRF maintains the only statutory monopoly on training and certifying mediators gazetted by the Chief Justice of Jamaica, and operates court-connected mediation services under Part 74 Civil Procedure Rules for the Supreme Court and Parish Courts. With approximately 32 employees, DRF runs four interlocking service lines: (1) mediation and arbitration for individuals, courts, and corporate clients; (2) professional ADR training courses (Basic Mediator Course at JMD $90,000–$120,000, Advanced, Refresher, Peer Mediation, and short courses) certified by the Chief Justice; (3) the flagship School Suspension Intervention Programme (SSIP), a 3–10 day behaviour modification curriculum serving at-risk youth aged 10–18 across 100+ schools, reaching ~85,000 young people cumulatively since inception; and (4) dispute management system design and corporate ADR consulting.

DRF's underlying "platform" is its proprietary Seven Stage Mediation Model — Introduction, Problem Determination, Summarization, Issue Identification, Generation and Evaluation of Alternatives, Selection of Appropriate Alternatives, and Conclusion — supplemented by the SSIP psycho-educational curriculum and a training delivery infrastructure now migrated to Zoom and Google Forms. Technology is not the core differentiator; rather, DRF's competitive position rests on 30+ years of operational track record, regulatory authority to produce gazetted mediators, court-connected referral pipelines, multi-decade donor relationships (USAID, UNICEF, CIDA/GOJ, Ford Foundation), and a deeply embedded community service network partnering with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, JAMBAR, and United Way of Jamaica. Revenue is generated through a hybrid professional-services model combining fee-for-service training and youth programmes with project-based grants from international development partners.

Name

Dispute Resolution Foundation JA

Legal name

Dispute Resolution Foundation

Website

https://drfja.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dispute Resolution Foundation JA is a Jamaican non-profit founded in 1994 that delivers Alternative Dispute Resolution services — mediation, arbitration, certified mediator training, and the SSIP youth programme — across 18 Peace & Justice Centres in Jamaica and 7 other Caribbean countries, serving courts, schools, communities, government ministries, and international development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alternative Dispute Resolution Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (624110), Educational Support Services (611710), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Alternative Dispute Resolution & Restorative Justice Programs (BPAIAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Restorative Practices, Conflict Resolution & Discipline Alternatives (EDAKAMAG), Threat Assessment, Violence Prevention & Behavioral Intervention Support (EDAEACAH), Wraparound Student Support & Case Management Services (At-Risk K–12) (EDAJAEAJ), Rule of Law, Justice & Corrections Support in Conflict Settings (BPADAFAI)

Keywords

• Alternative dispute resolution
• Mediation training
• Court-connected mediation
• Youth intervention programs
• Peace and justice centres

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Jamaica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Mediator Training and Certification: DRF generates revenue through fees for Basic Mediator Courses ($90,000-$120,000), Online courses ($75,000), Refreshers courses ($20,000), Advanced courses ($80,000), Peer Mediation Training ($75,000), and short courses ($5,000-$16,000). Successful trainees are recommended to the Chief Justice for gazetting and certification.
2. Youth Programme Services: Revenue from youth intervention programmes including SSIP ($3,000 per person for 3-10 days), Rap Sessions ($5,000 per person), Sensitization Sessions for parents ($3,000-$10,000), NGO/Government presentations ($10,000 per session), Peer Mediation Training ($25,000 per person), and Summer Camps ($5,000 per person).
3. Institutional Grants and Funding: DRF receives grants and funding from international development organizations including USAID (COMET II project), UNICEF, CIDA/GOJ, and other government and NGO partners for specific projects and programmes such as the Social Conflict & Legal Reform Project and Citizen Security & Justice Programme.
4. Court-Connected Mediation Services: DRF provides outsourced mediation services for the Supreme Court civil jurisdiction under Part 74 of the Civil Procedure Rules, as well as Parish Court mediation for criminal and civil matters. This represents a significant service contract with the judicial system.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Dispute Resolution Foundation provides professional Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, including court-connected mediation, arbitration, and certified mediator training. Its flagship community intervention is the School Suspension Intervention Programme (SSIP), a structured behaviour-modification programme for at-risk youth aged 10-18, delivered through 18 Peace & Justice Centres across Jamaica.

Product overview

Dispute Resolution Foundation JA operates as a service organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of Alternative Dispute Resolution services across Jamaica and the Caribbean. The core offering centers on mediation services for courts, communities, schools, and corporations, supported by professional ADR training programs and the flagship School Suspension Intervention Programme (SSIP) for at-risk youth. The organization maintains a registry of certified gazetted mediators and operates Peace and Justice Centres island-wide. Services are delivered through structured programs including youth department services, arbitration, and organizational dispute management systems. The portfolio includes training courses ranging from basic mediator certification to advanced specialization, peer mediation training for schools, and sensitization programs for various stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mediation Services Professional mediation services providing neutral third-party facilitation for dispute resolution in court systems, community centers, police stations, schools, and other settings. Covers family disputes (divorce, custody), property disputes, and general conflicts for individuals, communities, and organizations across Jamaica.
• Arbitration Services Arbitration services for corporate entities providing binding dispute resolution outside of court litigation. Delivered to organizations seeking efficient commercial conflict resolution.
• Basic Mediator Training Course 7-day intensive mediator training course equipping trainees with skills and competencies to conduct mediation in various settings including office, community, home, or court-connected environments. Available online via Zoom and in-person. Priced at JMD $90,000 in-person (without refreshments), $120,000 with refreshments, or $75,000 online. Successful trainees are recommended to the Chief Justice for gazetting and certification.
• School Suspension Intervention Programme (SSIP) Flagship psycho-educational intervention programme targeting at-risk youths aged 10-18. A specialised 5-day behaviour modification curriculum covering anger management, conflict resolution, problem solving, goal setting, values & attitude, peer pressure, anti-bullying, self-esteem, emotional intelligence, communication and team building skills. Delivered by trained Youth Peace Facilitators at Peace & Justice Centres across Jamaica. Priced at JMD $3,000 per person for 3-10 day sessions.
• Youth Department Services Comprehensive suite of youth intervention services including Rap Sessions (1 hour 15 mins, JMD $5,000 per person), Sensitization Sessions for parents (JMD $3,000-$10,000), NGO/Government presentations (JMD $10,000 per session), Peer Mediation Training (5 days, JMD $25,000 per person), and Summer Camps (two weeks, JMD $5,000 per person). Services delivered online or face-to-face.
• ADR Training Programmes Professional Alternative Dispute Resolution training programmes producing quality ADR practitioners. Includes 56-hour Certified Mediators Course (JMD $90,000), Mediators Refreshers Course (JMD $20,000), Celebrity Mediators Course, Peer Mediators Course (JMD $75,000), Advanced Mediators Course 4-day (JMD $80,000), and Arbitration training. Designed for individuals seeking certification and corporate groups.
• Peer Mediation Training 5-day peer mediation training programme for students, youths, church leaders, and youth club leaders in conflict resolution and peace-building skills. Includes theory (3 days) and practical (2 days) components with certification. Priced at JMD $25,000 per person with maximum 9 youths per cohort.
• Sensitization Sessions Educational sensitization sessions covering Conflict Management, Anger Management, Peer Pressure, Goal Setting, Core Values, and Self-Esteem. Available for parents (JMD $3,000-$10,000), NGOs, government entities, and educational institutions (JMD $10,000 per session, 45 minutes to 1 hour).
• Short ADR Courses Specialized short courses including Mediation Ethics, Effective Negotiation, Effective Communication for Mediators, Uncovering the Issues Identification, Property, and Making Mediation Your Day Job. Priced at JMD $5,000 per short course. Designed for mediators seeking continuing education and professionals seeking specific ADR skills.
• Dispute Management Resolution System Organizational conflict management system providing comprehensive approach to minimize conflict through analyzing dispute sources, evaluating current procedures, developing appropriate systems with organization members, and implementing mediation, advisory mediation, or arbitration procedures. Designed for corporate entities and government organizations.
• Gazetted Mediators Registry Registry of certified and gazetted mediators qualified to practice in Supreme Court and Parish Court jurisdictions, maintained by the Dispute Resolution Foundation under the patronage of the Chief Justice of Jamaica. Provides courts and litigants with access to qualified mediators for court-connected mediation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80,000 persons served through training and mediation services since 1995 across 8 Caribbean territories
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Guyana JudiciaryminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2007DRF delivered 40-hour Basic Mediator Training in Guyana and Mediation 101 Seminars for Attorneys in 2007 and 2010, with training for Guyana High Court in rural areas under USAID-GDCCR Project.
• Belize Family CourtminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2007DRF conducted certification of mediators for Belize Family Court in 2007 and 2012, extending its ADR expertise and training methodology to Belize.
• Ministry of Justice JamaicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006DRF works closely with the Ministry of Justice on advocacy, training, and services to strengthen Jamaica's justice agenda. The Ministry supported the establishment of DRF and continues collaboration on court-connected mediation programmes and legal reform initiatives.
• Ministry of Education, Youth & Information (MOEYI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Partnership for the School Suspension Intervention Programme (SSIP) since 2006. MOEYI provides institutional support and referral pathways for at-risk youth intervention services. The Ministry supports programme implementation in schools across Jamaica.
• Jamaican Bar Association (JAMBAR)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 1994JAMBAR founded the Dispute Resolution Foundation (originally Mediation Council of Jamaica) and played an integral role in the organization's conception and early operations. Continues to collaborate on legal reform and ADR advocacy.
• United Way of JamaicacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 July 1994Played an integral role in the company's conception and early operations alongside JAMBAR. Early operational support and institutional backing during DRF's formative years.
• Peace Management Initiative (PMI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on peace-making and conflict resolution initiatives in Jamaican communities as part of the broader justice and social development ecosystem.
• Mona School of Business, UWIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Caribbean Conferences on Dispute Resolution. Four conferences were held in partnership with the Mona School of Business, featuring youth and community days alongside business and legal streams.
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Caribbean BranchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for two Caribbean Conferences on Dispute Resolution. Collaborated on arbitration training at Associates and Masters Levels during the 2011 conference.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• The Carter Center: US-based non-profit advancing peace and health globally, including conflict resolution programming. Comparable in being a non-profit peacebuilding institution with donor and government partnerships.
• International Crisis Group: Global organization working to prevent wars and shape policies on conflict-affected states. Comparable thematic overlap on conflict resolution and peacebuilding, though operating at geopolitical scale.
• International Mediation Institute (IMI): Global non-profit setting quality standards and certification for mediators. Comparable as a non-profit mediator certification and standards body intersecting with DRF's training and gazetting role.

Broad incumbents

• JAMS: Premier private alternative dispute resolution provider in the US with extensive mediator panels and ADR training. Comparable as a leading neutral ADR services and training organization.
• American Arbitration Association (AAA) / ICDR: Largest US-based ADR provider offering arbitration, mediation, and ADR training with a broad portfolio. Comparable as a scale ADR-services and certification body, though operating in a much larger and more commercial market.

Direct peers

• Peace Management Initiative (PMI): Jamaican non-profit focused on violence interruption and community peacebuilding, working in close partnership with DRF on peace and conflict resolution initiatives. Highly comparable in geography, mission, and target population.
• Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR): UK-based non-profit promoting mediation and ADR through training, accreditation, and dispute resolution services. Closely comparable to DRF as a non-profit ADR training and accreditation body.
• Search for Common Ground: Global non-profit operating in conflict-affected countries to transform how communities and societies deal with conflict, including youth peace programmes comparable to DRF's SSIP.

Regional players

• Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC): Regional ADR hub providing mediation and training across Asia. Comparable as a regionally-prominent ADR training and cross-border mediation service provider.

Emerging players

• Restorative Justice International: International network advancing restorative justice practices globally. Comparable in restorative-justice philosophy overlapping with DRF's mediation and community-conflict work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dispute-resolution-foundation-ja

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Dispute Resolution Foundation JA