The Justice Activity is a five-year program that aims to strengthen Kosovo’s justice system by applying a people-centered justice approach to improve institutional capacity to provide people access to quality services and multiple means to solve their justice needs and everyday legal problems, and to generate greater public trust in the justice system and the rule of law. The activity will achieve this through: 

QUALITY AND ACCESSIBILITY OF JUSTICE SERVICES IMPROVED
USAID through this activity supports improved citizen access to justice by increasing procedural justice, expanding legal aid services, and continuing to improve administration and management policies and practices in courts. Through these efforts, the activity will support Kosovo institutions and key stakeholders to properly understand the priority needs of citizens to improve existing mechanisms or identify new measures, ensure all citizens receive fair and unbiased services, and citizen users better understand their legal rights and court procedures.

CITIZEN UNDERSTANDING, ENGAGEMENT, AND TRUST OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM IMPROVED 
USAID’s Justice Activity engages communities and practitioners in defining problems and proposing improvements to the delivery of legal services and information to disparate justice seekers where they live and on the issues they often confront. Working through responsible Kosovo institutions, the activity facilitates practitioner fora, including the community of practice for public information officers, to institutionalize critical and practical resources to engage with court users in soliciting their feedback and outreach and information sharing on justice services provision. 

EFFECTIVE INNOVATIONS IN THE JUSTICE SECTOR DEVELOPED 
The activity will initiate the creation of the Justice Innovation Incubator to help channel the capacity to innovate based on the challenges that justice institutions and their users face. In the people-centered justice paradigm, these innovations are likely to enhance the user-friendliness of policies and procedures, increase the affordability and accessibility of justice services, or improve justice seekers’ feelings of fairness and trust in the justice system.

KEY EXPECTED RESULTS

• Justice, legal, and social service providers partner to remedy citizen needs and improve user experiences and outcomes more holistically,
• Open justice initiatives that foster greater data transparency and public understanding of the functions and inner workings of justice institutions and service providers
• Development of innovative approaches and solutions that improve the quality of justice of cases that go to the courts
• Increased citizen awareness of their legal rights and court procedures
• Improved transparency and accountability of Kosovo justice institutions, and
• Increased citizen satisfaction with Kosovo’s court system 

Partner:                     Chemonics International Inc.

Project Duration:  August 2020 – February 2025                                                 

Contact:                    Flaka Xhelili Zekaj