USAID Judicial Reform and Government Accountability Project

USAID-SEIO Consultative Monitoring under

USAID Assistance Agreement: 169-AA-10-DG/001

Rob Force, USAID/Serbia Senior Rule of Law Advisor

February 28, 2012

USAID Judicial Reform and Government Accountability ProjectSEIO Aid coordination sector: Justice Sector

Budget and Duration

Total Life of Project funding: $21.8 millionMay 2011 – May 2016

Implementing Partner

National Center for State Courts

Objective Government Operations Improved

Agreement 169-AA-10-DG/001

Components Judicial ReformGovernment Accountability

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CONSULATIVE PROCESS TO DATE

• During project design and current implementation phases, USAID consulted widely with senior GoS officials to:– ensure responsiveness– optimize partnership opportunities– identify potential areas of need, cooperation and assistance.

• Date of USAID-GoS work plan reviews:Last review: August 2011

Next review: May 2012

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STATE OF IMPLEMENTATION

• Commencement of assistance to courts• Inaugural meeting of Misdemeanor Judges after integration into

court network• Establishment of working groups:

– transparency and access to courts– service of process and enforcement of court orders and judgments– case management.

• Technical assistance to Independent Agencies– Anti-Corruption Agency– State Audit Institution– Ombudsperson’s Office.

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INDICATORS

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Indicator Baseline 2011 2012

Number of Justice Sector Personnel that Received USG Training

0 400 800

Number of USG Assisted Courts with Improved Case Management

0 NA (commencing in 2012)

6

Number of government officials receiving USG supported anti-corruption training

0 155 300

KEY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GOS PARTNERS FOR YEAR ONE

• Active and close involvement by senior GoS and court officials in developing court assistance strategy

• Court participation in working groups – Misdemeanor Courts – three groups– Ministry of Justice – two groups

• Independent agencies begin implementing workplans/outreach:– ACA develops and begins implementation of training for political finance

monitors– Increasing public awareness– Developing inter-agency communication and cooperation

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IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES

• Judicial Reform/Re-appointment Process– HCC, MOJ, others under scrutiny by press, NGOs, EU– USAID continues to assist judicial reform efforts; results may

be affected if re-appointment process is protracted.

• The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) is still building its institutional capacity.– ACA’s workload and growing capacities may limit utilization

of USAID support. – Possibly adjust USAID expectations and focus of assistance

efforts.

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OUTLOOK

• USAID and its GoS counterparts have developed a strong partnership for future cooperation.

• Key program milestones in the year ahead:

– Successful renovations of selected partner courts– Implementation of court improvement plans– Implementation of policies and procedures developed by working groups– Building upon the current work with the Independent Agencies.

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