BACKGROUND

The USAID Rule of Law project is a four-year, $9.8 million project supporting justice sector reforms which enhance the timely delivery of justice for Serbian citizens.  The project works with the courts, public enforcement departments and officers, and the State Attorney’s Office to increase judicial efficiency, transparency, and access to justice.

ACTIVITIES

• Development of – and ongoing support to – the implementation of Serbia’s new 2019-2024 Judicial Development Strategy to improve court operations, reduce delays in court proceedings and increase public confidence in the courts. Initiatives include increasing utilization of E-justice tools, ensuring efficient delivery of court documents, streamlining court administration, supporting judicial assistants, and promoting transparency
• Strengthening the capacity of court enforcement departments and public enforcement officers to ensure that civil and commercial court decisions can be executed in a timely, fair and transparent manner
• Supporting the State Attorney’s Office to improve the quality and timeliness of legal advice and guidance provided to government bodies, reducing the level of litigation in which the state engages, and improving Serbia’s representation before the European Court of Human Rights 

RESULTS TO DATE

• The adoption of Amendments to the Law on Enforcement and Security – drafted together with stakeholders led by the Ministry of Justice – is contributing to fairer, more efficient, and less costly enforcement.
• Drafted the 2019-2024 Judicial Development Strategy with broad stakeholder input
• Expanded usage of the Judicial Information System has saved more than USD 3 million in costs compared to paper-based document exchanges between courts and outside institutions
• Applied settlement guidelines for cases in breach of right to trial within a reasonable timeframe – resulting in 507 settlement agreements in one year that took only 1/3 of the time and cost four times less than full court proceedings.
• Created a communications strategy for the High Court Council and courts
• Redesigned and publicly presented the Appellate Courts’ 2018 Annual Reports which resulted in greater understanding by citizens
• Developed E-justice tools to provide systemic solutions to service of process and court fees challenges

Project funded by:

United States Agency for International Development; USAID/Serbia

Project implemented by:

Development Professionals, Inc.; Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc; Alterfact Consulting; and Four Digits Consulting

Key counterparts:

Ministry of Justice; High Court Council; Supreme Court of Cassation; State Attorney’s Office; and Public Enforcement Officers

Where we work:

Nationwide

Total amount:

$9,837,335

Project duration:

July 2017- July 2021

Contact:

Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 28,

11000 Belgrade

E-mail:  rolps@rolps.org

Website:  www.rolps.org

PRINTABLE VERSION OF USAID RULE OF LAW PROJECT FACT SHEET