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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.
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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
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
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.
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
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.
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.