| • | Court Management and Administration |
| • | Judicial Independence |
| • | Judicial Ethics and Accountability |
| • | Strategic Planning and Program Design |
| • | Legislative Reform |
| • | Alternative Dispute Resolution |
| • | Civil Society Participation in the Judiciary |
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Projects: Africa
Liberia: Justice Sector Support Program (2005-2009)
The Justice Sector Support Program (JSSP) provided broad-based assistance to strengthen the capacity of the Liberian criminal justice system to investigate crimes, prosecute offenders, and represent defendants in a fair manner.
NCSC’s work under the JSSP focused on case management procedures, court performance, and financial operations. NCSC worked to improve the status of case management in Liberia and enhance the equipment and infrastructure of the main courthouse building in Monrovia. NCSC introduced a case numbering project to improve overall case management. NCSC’s Court Administration Expert completed a Case Management Plan for the Criminal Court System in the Republic of Liberia and assisted the court staff with planning the usage of courthouse space to establish a case file room with reading space and proper check-in/check-out procedures.
The Court Budget and Personnel Expert worked with the heads of the personnel and finance departments to establish standard operating procedures for each department. NCSC provided guidance to the top Court Administrator and his Controller on managing a budget process, strategies to maximize funding from the legislature, and the implications of the Judiciary Financial Independence law.
Rwanda - Administrative and Financial Training for Decentralized Courts
(2005 - 2006)
The Administrative and Financial Training for Decentralized Courts Project helped to facilitate the decentralization of the court system. After completing an exhaustive assessment of the sector, the project:
- assisted in developing a comprehensive and consultative budget formulation process for the 2006 judicial budget;
- drafted a legal analysis describing the legal and constitutional framework and recommended amendments to facilitate the decentralization process for the judicial branch;
- developed a financial procedures manual to promote decentralized budget formulation and execution as well as reorganized judicial management;
- conducted a targeted continuing education program;
- identified the extent to which courts generate, and not simply expend, national revenue; and
- designed and conducted an international conference on the implications, both politically and financially, of judicial independence. As a result of the project, the development of the 2006 Rwandan judicial budget included the participation of all the Provincial and High Courts, marking the first time that Provincial Courts were involved in the budget development process.
Nigeria - Rule of Law Assistance Project Phase II (2002-2005)
This project was the second phase of a program to strengthen the Nigerian judicial system and enable the system to operate effectively as an independent branch of government within a democratic state. The goal was to increase the independence and accountability of Nigerian courts within the jurisdiction of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Lagos and Kaduna states.
The project focused on four primary tasks: enhance annual budget preparation, presentation, and management by the participating courts and the National Judicial Council; increase case disposition in selected courts; improve ethical behavior of the judiciary in participating courts; and improve public access to information about the judiciary in participating courts. NCSC also worked closely with civil society organizations in implementing these tasks.