Quarterly Report May 23, 2018 – August 22, 2018
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QUARTERLY REPORT MAY 23, 2018 – AUGUST 22, 2018 JUSTICE SYSTEM STRENGTHENING PROGRAM IN KOSOVO Contract: AID-167-TO-16-00001 Implemented by: Millennium DPI Partners, LLC Two Boar’s Head Place, Suite 130 Charlottesville, VA 22903 Program Address: Str. Bedri Pejani, no. 17/III 10000 Pristina, Kosovo September 6, 2018 DISCLAIMER This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Millennium DPI Partners, LLC. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. USAID Contract AID-167-TO-16-00001 Millennium DPI Partners Justice System Strengthening Program in Kosovo – Quarterly Report September 6, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS ..................................................................................................................................... ii ABOUT THE PROJECT .................................................................................................................................. 1 Project Objectives ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Strategic Framework ................................................................................................................................. 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................. 2 Objective 1 .................................................................................................................................................. 2 Objective 2 .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Objective 3 .................................................................................................................................................. 4 SECTION I – ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS ................................................................................................ 5 Objective 1: Strengthen the Efficiency and the Effectiveness of the Administration of Justice and Delivery of Quality Services by the KJC and Courts ................................................................. 5 Objective 2: Enhance the Accountability and Professionalism of Justice System Institutions and Actors .................................................................................................................................................16 Objective 3: Support the Functioning and the Integration of the Judicial Structures in the North ..........................................................................................................................................................24 Cross-Cutting Activities .........................................................................................................................29 Problems Encountered and Solutions Applied ..................................................................................31 SECTION II – REPORTS AND DELIVERABLES .....................................................................................33 Reports and Deliverables Produced This Quarter ..........................................................................33 SECTION III – MAJOR ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR NEXT QUARTER ........................................34 Objective 1: Strengthen the Efficiency and the Effectiveness of the Administration of Justice and Delivery of Quality Services by the KJC and Courts ...............................................................34 Objective 2: Enhance the Accountability and Professionalism of Justice System Institutions and Actors .................................................................................................................................................35 Objective 3: Support the Functioning and the Integration of the Judicial Structures in the North ..........................................................................................................................................................36 SECTION IV – PMP PROGRESS .................................................................................................................37 Performance Management Plan – Outcome and Indicator Chart ................................................38 SECTION V – SUCCESS STORIES ............................................................................................................41 Page i USAID Contract AID-167-TO-16-00001 Millennium DPI Partners Justice System Strengthening Program in Kosovo – Quarterly Report September 6, 2018 LIST OF ACRONYMS ACDC Advocacy Center for Democratic Culture BIRN Balkan Investigative Reporting Network CAC Court Administration Committee CCK Constitutional Court of Kosovo CDCS Country Development and Cooperation Strategy CMIS Case Management Information System CLE Contract Law Enforcement Program (USAID-funded) CPRU Court Performance Review Unit CSO Civil Society Organization D+ Democracy Plus ECR Electronic Case Registry EU European Union GIZ German Society for International Cooperation ICT Information and Communications Technology IR Intermediate Result JSA Justice Sector Agreement JSSP Justice System Strengthening Program KJA Kosovo Justice Academy KJC Kosovo Judicial Council MCLE Mandatory Continuing Legal Education MOJ Ministry of Justice MPA Ministry of Public Administration NAO National Audit Office PIO Public Information Officer PRP Property Rights Program (USAID-funded) PSA Public Service Announcement TOT Training of Trainers USAID United States Agency for International Development Page ii USAID Contract AID-167-TO-16-00001 Millennium DPI Partners Justice System Strengthening Program in Kosovo – Quarterly Report September 6, 2018 ABOUT THE PROJECT PROJECT OBJECTIVES The Justice System Strengthening Program (JSSP) is a four-year rule of law program that builds upon the prior investments of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in advancing the rule of law in Kosovo. JSSP focuses on promoting a judicial system that adheres to high standards of efficiency, accountability, and professionalism, and on supporting the integration of judicial structures in the north. Program activities focus on three main objectives: • Objective 1: Strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of the administration of justice and the delivery of quality services by the Kosovo Judicial Council (KJC) and courts • Objective 2: Enhance the accountability and professionalism of justice system institutions and actors • Objective 3: Support the functioning and integration of judicial structures in the north of Kosovo. STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK JSSP supports USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy 2014–2018 (CDCS) and the overall goal of Kosovo becoming an increasingly prosperous country that will progressively integrate into the Euro-Atlantic community with more effective and accountable governance. Specifically, the program supports Development Objective 1, Improved Rule of Law and Governance that Meet Citizens’ Needs. This includes improving the institutional and human capacity of justice sector institutions to build a democratic and more inclusive society. Program activities are designed to advance the CDCS’ Intermediate Result (IR) 1.1—More Efficient, Transparent, Independent, and Accountable Justice Sector—by improving court administration and the capacity of key justice institutions and enhancing the skills of justice sector professionals. They also further IR 1.3—Improved Integration of Ethnic Minorities—by improving conditions for ethnic minorities to have access to justice and a voice in building their country’s future. The relevant IRs and Sub-IRs for JSSP’s work are listed below. IR 1.1 More Efficient, Transparent, Independent, and Accountable Justice Sector Sub-IR 1.1.1 Better Court Administration and Management of Judicial Institutions Sub-IR 1.1.2 Enhanced Skills of Justice Sector Professionals Sub-IR 1.1.3 Improved Legal Regimes in Key Areas with Stronger Implementation IR 1.3 Improve Integration of Serb-Populated North Sub-IR 1.3.1 Enhanced Capacity to Address Minority Issues Sub-IR 1.3.2 Increased Participation of Minority Populations Page 1 USAID Contract AID-167-TO-16-00001 Millennium DPI Partners Justice System Strengthening Program in Kosovo – Quarterly Report September 6, 2018 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY JSSP made significant progress this quarter to enhance the rule of law in Kosovo by promoting integration and improving the quality of judicial services. Specific activities for each component are highlighted below. OBJECTIVE 1 Objective 1 focuses on strengthening the administration of justice and delivery of services by the KJC and courts. JSSP continued technical support to build KJC capacity, support committees, and improve the judiciary’s regulatory framework. Quarterly achievements included: • Supported the KJC and the MOJ throughout the process of drafting of the new Law on Courts and the Law on KJC. JSSP offered significant assistance to the KJC Normative Committee and the Legal Office to ensure that the relevant comments, provisions and proposals regarding the draft laws are properly prepared and presented to the Assembly of Kosovo. • Supported the KJC Legal Office and the KJC Normative Committee in developing a list of regulatory changes that will be required for implementation of the revised