|
Afghanistan Rule of Law Stabilization Program – Informal Component (Phase 3)
USAID (2012 - 2014)
|
|
A continuation of earlier projects that started in 2010, Phase 3 will build on lessons learned from earlier work focusing on the core objectives of (1) strengthening traditional dispute resolution (TDR) mechanisms, (2) enhancing linkages between the formal and informal systems, and (3) facilitating the resolution of long-standing and destabilizing disputes. These efforts to strengthen the TDR system will increase stability in project districts where stability is measured by perceptions of increased access to justice, increased confidence in TDR mechanisms as a means to resolve disputes, and a decrease in the number of long-standing intractable disputes. The fundamental aim of Checchi’s district level interventions is to create accessible, efficient, holistic, equitable, and sustainable systems that can not only bring or improve justice and dispute resolution in these particular districts, but that can serve as tested models for adaptation and replication throughout Afghanistan.
Return to Top
|
|
Afghanistan Rule of Law Stabilization Program – Informal Component (Phases 1 and 2)
USAID (2010 - 2012)
|
|
As implementing partner for this key component of USAID/Afghanistan’s new Rule of Law Stabilization Program, Checchi worked with the Afghan Government and Afghan NGOs to enable immediate access to justice through community-based dispute resolution mechanisms in districts in the southern and eastern parts of the country. Among other activities, Checchi advisors worked with community elders and relevant state actors to strengthen or re-establish the jirga and shura system for dispute resolution, as well as assisting with providing access to formal justice systems when appropriate. In addition, Checchi developed activities to help educate people about their legal rights under the constitution; provided training to community members to monitor local dispute resolution cases; and supported the government in its groundbreaking work on the development of a national policy for traditional justice in Afghanistan.
Return to Top
|
|
Afghanistan - Rule of Law Project
USAID (2004 - 2009)
|
|
When the Taliban regime was removed from power in Afghanistan, the country faced the task of building a stable, democratic society and creating an environment of respect for the rule of law after almost a quarter century of conflict. As the implementing contractor for USAID's Afghanistan Rule of Law Project, Checchi contributed to this goal by helping Afghanistan rebuild its justice sector. The program was designed to strengthen justice sector systems and the education and training of legal personnel to operate within those systems; to develop capacity for law reform and legislative drafting; and to build linkages between the formal and traditional justice sectors. Activities included support for court administration, law schools, and the National Legal Training Center; student/faculty exchanges; assistance in drafting, codifying, and disseminating laws; and public education and awareness campaigns.
Return to Top
|
|
Bolivia - Administration of Justice Program
USAID (2005 - 2010)
|
|
In February 2005, USAID awarded Checchi a four-year contract to implement the Bolivia Administration of Justice Program. The Program had three principal objectives: (1) strengthening the capacity of justice sector operators and institutions to successfully implement a new Criminal Procedure Code; (2) increasing access to justice through support for the establishment and expansion of Integrated Justice Centers; and (3) developing and promoting commercial and administrative law reforms. The first objective emphasized technical assistance and training activities to strengthen the Judicial Branch, the Public Ministry, the Public Defender's Office and the Forensic Investigation Institute. The second objective focused on technical assistance to expand the Integrated Justice Center Model, which provides mediation and other justice-related services to marginalized communities. With respect to the third objective, Checchi strengthened specialized commercial and administrative courts, as well as supported the establishment of arbitration and mediation centers at the national level.
Return to Top
|
|
Bulgaria - Judicial Strengthening Initiative
USAID (2004 - 2007)
|
|
The Judicial Strengthening Initiative (JSI) was the cornerstone of USAID's strategy for advancing the professionalism, good governance, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Bulgarian judicial system, thereby breaking the cycle of citizen mistrust and apathy toward the judiciary. Under a subcontract with East-West Management Institute (EWMI), Checchi provided a long-term advisor to help promote public education and awareness of judicial reform issues. Activities included development of public awareness/outreach campaigns, training of court personnel in media relations and presentation skills, and working with other USAID partners to increase the knowledge, reporting accuracy, and motivation of print and broadcast media.
Return to Top
|
|
Colombia Access to Justice Activity
USAID (2013 - 2017)
|
|
In February 2013, Checchi Consulting was awarded a four-year contract to execute the Access to Justice Activity (AJA) in Colombia. The basic premise of this four-year project is that greater access to justice is a cornerstone of the rule of law, which in turn is a key element for the establishment of a sustainable democracy. This is particularly true in the Colombian consolidation regions, where establishment of the rule of law contributes to building the legitimacy of the state. Consolidation regions were formalized by the GOC and USG in 2009 as part of the National Consolidation Plan, a follow-on to Plan Colombia. Fifteen priority regions throughout the country were identified as key regions to concentrate security and consolidate state presence. The AJA is working to consolidate prior gains, strengthen institutions, and heighten the focus in these consolidation areas. Among other activities, Checchi advisors are working with the Ministry of Justice and Law to establish 11 new Justice Houses in the consolidation regions. Checchi is also supporting the National Gender Commission of the Judicial Branch and its regional committees to create and strengthen a network of women lawyers and psychologists in the consolidation regions to assist the victims of gender-based violence. In addition, the company is supporting the judiciary as it establishes effective and efficient land restitution courts for the dispossessed victims of Colombia’s lengthy armed conflict.
Return to Top
|
|
Colombia - Administration of Justice Program
USAID (2001 - 2006)
|
|
The Administration of Justice Program supported the Government of Colombia's efforts to create a fairer, more transparent, and more effective criminal justice system while expanding access to justice for Colombian citizens. As USAID's implementing contractor for this Program, Checchi worked with the key justice sector institutions to introduce oral trial procedures and other elements of the constitutionally-mandated adversarial system, improve public defense services, and establish a system of Casas de Justicia, or Justice Houses, throughout the country. Among other activities, Checchi provided extensive training in the new adversarial system, assisted with the renovation of 28 courtrooms for oral trials, developed Public Defense Pilot Offices in Bogota and two other cities, and helped establish 23 new Justice Houses offering community dispute resolution, family law, and related services. The Program also included a major grants component to help strengthen the awareness and involvement of civil society in the reform initiatives.
Return to Top
|
|
Ecuador - Strengthening Legal Assistance Services in Civil Society Organizations
USAID and Esquel Foundation (2004 - 2005)
|
|
Checchi designed and implemented a Defense Model for Ecuadoran civil society organizations that provide criminal defense services for those unable to afford legal counsel. The Model was developed in accordance with ISO 9000 quality standards, including the implementation of strategic planning systems, the revision of administrative procedures, and the development of training plans. The Checchi team then assisted seven pilot Legal Assistance Centers in various regions of the country to apply the Model and strengthen their capacity to provide effective criminal defense services. The team also provided technical support for the development of an automated case management system.
Return to Top
|
|
El Salvador - Justice System Improvement Program
USAID (2008 - 2012)
|
|
Checchi implemented a four-year task order under USAID's Rule of Law IQC to help strengthen the criminal justice system in El Salvador. The company provided technical assistance in the implementation of a new criminal procedure code. Among other activities, the Checchi team worked to promote better coordination between the National Civilian Police and the Attorney General's Office in the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases. The team worked to strengthen the capacity for forensic investigation and increase the use of scientific evidence as a basis for conviction. In addition, Checchi provided assistance to the Attorney General's Office to reengineer its organizational structure and processes. Finally, Checchi assisted with the development and implementation of a Domestic Violence Initiative and a Rape Crisis Center Model.
Return to Top
|
|
El Salvador - Judicial Reform Projects I and II
USAID (1990 - 1998)
|
|
Under two consecutive contracts, Checchi provided technical assistance and training services to support the transition from an inquisitorial criminal justice system to a modern, adversarial system in El Salvador. The Checchi team worked in the following areas: (1) legal reform, including assistance with the drafting of a new Criminal Code and Criminal Procedure Code; (2) institutional strengthening of the Judicial Branch, the Attorney General's Office, the Public Defender's Office and the Judicial Training School; and (3) promoting greater popular understanding of the reforms through public education/awareness campaigns that included the use of television, radio and a wide range of print media. Checchi also collaborated with Salvadoran non-governmental organizations to promote the participation of civil society in the reform process.
Return to Top
|
|
Guatemala - Rule of Law Program
USAID (2004 - 2009)
|
|
Under the Guatemala Rule of Law Program, the company executed activities in the following areas: increasing the use of oral procedures in the criminal justice system; improving the prosecutorial capacity of the Public Ministry; strengthening the Anti-Corruption Unit of the Public Ministry; strengthening crime prevention efforts at both the national and local levels; increasing the use of mediation and alternative dispute resolution; improving the quality of legal education; and helping civil society organizations to increase their capacities to advocate for justice sector reforms. A number of these activities built upon the accomplishments of the Guatemala Justice Program, also implemented by Checchi.
Return to Top
|
|
Guatemala - Justice Program
USAID (1999 - 2004)
|
|
Under the Guatemala Justice Program, Checchi provided extensive technical assistance to the Public Ministry, the Judicial Branch, and the Public Defense Institute to support policy and institutional reforms ranging from the establishment of specialized crime units in District Attorneys' offices to the design and implementation of modern case handling and case tracking systems in the courts. To help increase access to justice, the Program assisted in establishing and strengthening 17 regional Justice Centers, while creating mechanisms for inter-institutional coordination in the justice sector at the local level. The Program also conducted multilingual public education campaigns regarding mediation, domestic violence, and access to the criminal justice system. Finally, the program helped to create 16 Community Mediation Centers in order to encourage the use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and the recognition of indigenous law.
Return to Top
|
|
Indonesia - Promoting Deregulation and Competition Project
Asian Development Bank (2001 - 2002)
|
|
As part of a comprehensive effort to strengthen the competitive environment for economic activity, Indonesia established an independent regulatory commission to investigate and adjudicate complaints of anti-competitive practices, and a task force to review and streamline the regulatory framework. Under the Promoting Deregulation and Competition (PDC) project, Checchi helped build the capacity of the commission and the task force to identify and evaluate government policies, laws, and regulations that inhibit competition. This assistance included establishing a framework and procedures for screening policy and regulatory proposals and conducting public benefits reviews, identifying regulations imposing high compliance costs on small businesses, and organizing policy dissemination and outreach activities.
Return to Top
|
|
Kyrgyzstan - Infrastructure for a Market Economy Project
USAID (1999 - 2006)
|
|
The Legal Infrastructure for a Market Economy (LIME) Project provided technical assistance to develop commercial law and a modern legal culture in Kyrgyzstan. The Project worked with government counterparts to draft and review legislation and develop new legal structures; organized seminars and workshops for legal professionals, educators, and the business community on current law and practice; and promoted legal awareness by producing and broadly distributing a wide range of legal information products. The Project played an active role in drafting efforts related to the Land Code, the Law on Land Governance, the Law on Commercial Arbitration, the Civil Code, the Tax Code, and other commercial legislation. Project personnel also worked directly with businessmen and civil society groups to teach them how to use the law in their work and in their daily lives.
Return to Top
|
|
Mexico - Strengthened Rule of Law Project
USAID (2004 - 2007)
|
|
Under a subcontract with Management Systems International, Inc. (MSI), Checchi worked on a program to strengthen the rule of law in Mexico by increasing the effectiveness of the criminal justice system and expanding access to justice for marginalized populations. The program supported Mexico's transition to an oral/adversarial system, which required extensive changes to how justice was administered. Among other activities, the program assisted with the passage and implementation of code reforms, the training of justice sector operators, and improvements in court administration at the federal and state levels.
Return to Top
|
|
Moldova - Rule of Law Institutional Strengthening Program
USAID (2012 - 2016)
|
|
In March 2012, USAID awarded Checchi a four-year contract to implement the Rule of Law Institutional Strengthening Program (ROLISP) in Moldova. Checchi advisors will work with Moldovan counterparts to help strengthen the institutional capacity, transparency and accountability of key justice sector institutions in order to enhance the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary. Among other activities, the Program will help judicial institutions to effectively oversee the work of the courts; improve system-wide management to ensure that courts are meeting performance standards; institutionalize modern court administration and budgeting practices; increase the capacity of the National Institute of Justice to train judges, prosecutors and court administrators; and increase the capacity of civil society organizations to monitor and advocate for justice sector reform. By strengthening the stability and efficiency of institutions responsible for safeguarding democracy and the rule of law in Moldova, ROLISP will contribute to an increased capacity of the judiciary to respond to citizens’ needs.
Return to Top
|
|
Newly Independent States - Regional Rule of Law Program
USAID (1993 - 1998)
|
|
To facilitate the transition to democratic, market-based societies, an ARD/Checchi Joint Venture provided assistance to the transcaucasus republics of Armenia and Georgia and the NIS republics of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan under the USAID-funded Rule of Law Program. Specifically, ARD/Checchi provided assistance with drafting model civil and criminal codes, judicial training in areas of commercial law, law school curriculum development, and provision of computerized legal information systems. All program activities were aimed at increasing citizen awareness of, demand for, and participation in legal reform and the use of legal institutions and recourse.
Return to Top
|
|
Nicaragua - Strengthened Rule of Law and Respect for Human Rights Program
USAID (2005 - 2009)
|
|
After successfully completing a five-year USAID-funded effort to strengthen Nicaragua's public defense and prosecutorial functions, Checchi and Company Consulting, Inc. was awarded a three-year Task Order to expand and deepen reforms in the criminal justice sector and to promote respect for human rights. The Task Order, awarded in April 2005, focused on increasing access to justice for marginalized groups, strengthening justice sector institutions, and promoting the participation of civil society in the strengthening of the rule of law and human rights. Major activities included the institutional strengthening of the national Public Defender's Office, Attorney General's Office, Public Prosecutor's Office and the court system. In addition, the Program helped to establish and strengthen several civil society coalitions to promote the rule of law and respect for human rights. The Program also worked with Nicaraguan law schools in the design of a new standardized curriculum.
Return to Top
|
|
Nicaragua - Institutional Strengthening Project
USAID (1999 - 2005)
|
|
In the late 1990s, Nicaragua embarked on an ambitious effort to reform and modernize its judicial system. Checchi was contracted to support this effort by assisting key justice sector institutions to prepare for and implement the reform legislation, including a criminal procedure code based on oral trials and other elements of the adversarial system. The assistance focused on two objectives: (i) establishing a public defense function to promote greater equity in the justice system; and (ii) strengthening the prosecutorial function to ensure more effective criminal investigations and prosecutions. Under the first objective, Checchi worked closely with the Nicaraguan Supreme Court to plan and establish a Public Defender's Office in Managua, and then successfully expand public defense services to the national level. Under the second objective, Checchi prepared prosecutors to implement the new adversarial procedures by strengthening the capacity of the newly-constituted Public Ministry to lead criminal investigations and prosecutions, and the capacity of the Attorney General's Office to prosecute corruption cases.
Return to Top
|
|
Philippines - Rule of Law Activity
USAID (2004 - 2007)
|
|
This USAID activity supported the efforts of the Government of the Philippines to improve public sector governance and strengthen the rule of law. The program's anti-corruption component focused on strengthening the capacity and effectiveness of the Office of the Ombudsman, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Civil Service Commission, the Anti-Money Laundering Council, and other implementing partners in combating corruption, while increasing public awareness of the effects of corruption and public participation in anti-corruption activities. The judicial reform component helped to implement the Supreme Court's Action Program for Judicial Reform in the areas of caseflow management, mediation, and judicial training. In collaboration with Management Systems International, Inc. (MSI), the prime contractor for this activity, Checchi provided long-term and short-term technical assistance for both components.
Return to Top
|
|
Russia - Rule of Law Program
USAID (1993 - 1997)
|
|
In a joint venture partnership with ARD, Inc. Checchi designed and implemented a four-year program to support the development of stable legal, political, and economic environments in the Russian Federation. ARD/Checchi was involved in the planning and management of activities in three substantive areas: (i) reform of laws and administrative regulations needed to protect individual rights; (ii) reform of institutions that formulate, implement, adjudicate, and enforce the laws; and (iii) strengthening of civil society. Activities included legislative drafting, development of law school curricula, training of judges, development of a competitive grants program for local NGOs, and support for the publication of laws and other legal documents.
Return to Top
|
|
Montenegro Justice Sector Reform Project
USAID (2003 - 2007)
|
|
In this multi-year project, Checchi provided technical assistance to help modernize the laws that affect the operation of the Montenegrin judicial system, to implement structural changes required under the Courts Act, and to introduce modern court administration and case management techniques. Working with the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court, Checchi's activities focused on establishing new Appellate and Administrative Courts and an independent Administrative Office, promoting changes in the laws to increase the independence of the judiciary, improving case management at all levels of the court system, and upgrading court system infrastructure. Checchi advisors also deliveres training to enhance the capacity of judges and court staff to implement procedural reforms.
Return to Top
|
|
Tajikistan - Legal Infrastructure for a Market Economy Project
USAID (1999 - 2006)
|
|
In 1995, Checchi was selected by USAID to undertake a commercial law training and drafting project in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan under the umbrella of the ARD/Checchi Rule of Law Consortium. After several years of successful activities, Checchi and ARD received a second contract from USAID to continue the project and expand its reach to include Tajikistan. To help create supportive legal environments for market-oriented economies, the Tajikistan project has provided institutional development support for judicial training and legislative drafting units and developed local training capacity and substantive knowledge through intensive workshops on commercial and criminal laws. The Project has also managed a court modernization initiative, organized judicial examinations and a merit-based system for judicial appointments, supported an independent Judicial Training Center, assisted in establishing a collateral registry, and worked with the International Banking Institute to establish a bankruptcy trustee program for the commercial courts.
Return to Top
|
|
Ukraine - Rule of Law Program
USAID (1993 - 1999)
|
|
USAID's Rule of Law Program was designed to help public and private organizations in the former Soviet Union to develop or strengthen the laws, legal institutions, and civic structures that support democratic and market-oriented societies. Checchi was a partner in a joint venture with ARD, Inc. to implement the program in Ukraine. The program focused on strengthening core legal institutions, including courts, the procuracy, and law schools. Additionally, ARD/Checchi assisted in drafting key sections of the Ukrainian constitution and creating the legislative basis for an independent judiciary, and supported locally-produced media campaigns on anti-corruption and citizens rights issues.
Return to Top
|
|
Projects 
