ANNUAL REPORT FOR FY 2012 Rule of Law Institutional Strengthening Program (ROLISP) USAID Contract No. AID-117-C-12-00002 Prepared by: Frederick G. Yeager COP Activity Office: USAID/Moldova COR: Ina Pislaru, September 30, 2012 Submitted October 15, 2012 by: Frederick G. Yeager, Chief of Party Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc. ROLISP Program 27 Armenesca Street 1 Chisinau, Moldova Contents FY 2012 ANNUAL REPORT ON EXPECTED RESUTS AND ACTIVITIES .............................................. 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 8 OBJECTIVE 1: ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE MOLDOVAN JUDICIARY THROUGH STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF THE SCM AND THE DJA .......................................... 8 OBJECTIVE 2: STRENGTHEN THE INSTITUTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY OF THE NIJ ........................... 11 • Modernize CLE Training Content ..................................................................................................... 13 • Develop guidelines for interpreting the ICMS statistical data .......................................................... 13 OBJECTIVE 3: INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS TO MONITOR AND ADVOCATE FOR JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS AND IMPROVE PUBLIC LEGAL AWARENESS THUS INCREASING ACCESS TO JUSTICE IN MOLDOVA ...................................................................................................................................... 14 PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ........................................................................................................... 15 PROJECT OVERIEW SECTION ................................................................................................................... 16 OBJECTIVE 1: ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE MOLDOVAN JUDICIARY THROUGH STRENGTHENING THE CAPACITY OF THE SCM AND THE DJA ........................................ 16 Expected Result 1.1: Judicial operations are rationalized and streamlined based on objective court performance data ........................................................................................................................................ 16 Activity 1.1 Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the SCM ................................................. 16 Activity 1.2 Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the MOJ ........................................................ 16 Activity 1.3 Refine and develop additional performance indicators ...................................................... 17 Activity 1.13 Conduct a functional analysis of SCM and DJA ...................................................... 18 Activity 1.14 Prepare the Functional Analysis Report ............................................................................. 18 Activity 1.15 Establish an Implementation Team ................................................................................ 18 Activity 1.16 Develop a Prioritized Action Plan ................................................................................ 18 Expected Result 1.2: SCM has the capacity to plan and budget for the long-term needs of Moldova’s judiciary ...................................................................................................................................................... 18 Activity 1.17 Train SCM and DJA in financial management, auditing, procurement and reporting 18 Activity 1.18 Train the SCM and DJA in formulating, presenting and defending budget requests. ....... 19 Activity 1.19 Publish Court Budget Preparation Manual ....................................................................... 19 Activity 1.20 Consult with ministries and agencies responsible for financial management ................... 19 Activity 1.21 Develop a training program for staff charged with developing and presenting budgets .. 20 Activity 1.22 Conduct regional workshops ............................................................................................ 20 Expected Result 1.3: Streamlined court management and administration processes and optimized court organization ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Activity 1.23 Court visits assessment ................................................................................................... 21 Activity 1.24 Court profiles ..................................................................................................................... 22 Activity 1.25 Develop Court Administrative Manual for Non-Core Functions ....................................... 22 Activity 1.26 Develop curricula for initial and ongoing training of court administrators ........................ 22 Activity 1.27 Conduct initial and ongoing training of court administrators ........................................... 22 Activity 1.28 Prioritize courthouses ........................................................................................................ 22 This activity prioritizes courthouse infrastructure improvements using information from the Courts’ Assessment Report. As discussed above, the release of the “Assessment Report of Courts of Law in the Republic of Moldova.” is planned for October 18, 2012. ROLISP anticipates that this activity will begin late in the work plan 3rd quarter. ................................................................................................................ 22 Activity 1.29 Organize an oversight committee ...................................................................................... 22 Activity 1.30 Develop guidelines for building new courthouses and renovating current courthouses ..... 23 Activity 1.31 Review relevant regulations to ensure proper usage and maintenance of IT systems ......... 23 Activity 1.32 Develop an Action Plan for IT infrastructure .................................................................... 23 Activity 1.33 Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with CTS ............................................................. 23 Activity 1.34 Organize an Audio Recording Working Group ................................................................. 24 Activity 1.35 Review ICMS and audio recordi ........................................................................................ 24 Activity 1.36 Prepare an Audio Recording Manual ................................................................................ 25 Activity 1.37 Identify equipment needs..................................................................................................... 25 Activity 1.38 Develop IT Requirements Plan .......................................................................................... 25 Activity 1.39 Assist the DJA in developing a long-term plan for budgetary resources for acquisition of IT systems .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Activity 1.40 Develop court training profiles .......................................................................................... 25 Activity 1.41 Develop a curriculum for ongoing training in information technologies .......................... 26 2 Activity 1.42 Conduct training in the use of information technologies ................................................... 26 Activity 1.43 Develop curricula for initial and ongoing training in ICMS and audio recording ............. 26 Aactivity 1.44 Conduct initial and ongoing training in ICMS and audio recording ................................ 26 Audio recording training started in the last week of the 2nd quarter and will continue during the work plan 3rd quarter. .................................................................................................................................................. 26 For full details on ICMS training and audio recording training see Component 2, Activity 2.12: Court staff training. ............................................................................................................................................... 26 Activity 1.45 Develop educational programs .......................................................................................... 27 Activity 1.48 Provide equipment to courts .............................................................................................. 27 As discussed in Activity 1.34 Organize an Audio Recording Working Group above, ROLISP plans to purchase enough audio recording equipment so that all courtrooms in all Moldovan courts are equipped with audio recording equipment. ROLISP is also planning to purchase dictaphones or audio recording equipment so that hearings in judges’ chambers can be recorded. ............................................................ 28 ACTIVITIES NOT INCLUDED IN THE WORK PLAN ................................................................................................ 28 OBJECTIVE 2: STRENGTHEN THE INSTITUTIONAL AND OPERATIONAL CAPACITY OF THE NIJ ....................... 29 EXPECTED RESULT 2.1: IMPROVED MANAGEMENT PRACTICES WITHIN NIJ .................................................... 29 Activity 2.1 Assess organizational structure and operating procedures and strategic planning ............. 29 Activity 2.2 Assess staffing needs ...........................................................................................................