Albanian Justice Sector Strengthening Project (JuST) Year 4 Annual Implementation Report

The project aims to increase court transparency, fairness, and efficiency, strengthen civic engagement to combat corruption, and modernize legal education in Albania. JuST has made significant progress in its fourth year, with notable achievements in digital audio recording, civic engagement, and legal education. The installation of digital audio recording equipment has reached 25 courts and 112 courtrooms, with three regional conferences held to promote the technology. Two pilot courts have been launched to demonstrate active case management, resulting in measurable improvements in case processing. The project has also made strides in civic engagement, with the Union of Albanian Judges (UAJ) achieving sustainability and active engagement in key policy issues. The Association of Journalists for Justice (AJJ) has become an active and vibrant organization, conducting exclusive investigations that have had a national impact. Civil society organizations are becoming stronger, and the Union of Albanian Judges is taking on a more visible role as a voice of the judiciary. In the area of legal education, Continuing Legal Education (CLE) has grown from two regional training programs to a nationally authorized program, in line with European standards. A new School of Advocates has been established, and a bar journal for the legal profession has achieved sustainability. The legal clinic has overcome early implementation challenges and is now a permanent part of the Law Faculty curriculum. The project's implementing environment is driven by Albania's quest for accession into the European Union (EU). The country's judiciary is perceived to favor powerful interests over the impartial application of law, hindering economic growth and prosperity. USAID assistance to Albania focuses on increasing court transparency, fairness, and efficiency through direct engagement with institutional stakeholders and citizen organizations. Albania achieved a significant milestone in its development on June 24, 2014, when ministers from EU member states granted EU candidate status to the country. Reaching this milestone has been a long and arduous process, and much remains to be done on the path to EU membership. USAID's investment in court audio recording technology is frequently cited as one measure of progress toward higher standards of transparency and accountability. The United States remains committed to assisting Albania as it seeks to strengthen its institutions and enhance the rule of law. JuST is a $9.7M, five-year project that works with Albanian governmental and non-governmental organizations to increase court transparency, fairness, and efficiency, strengthen civic engagement to stem governmental and justice sector corruption, and modernize legal education. The project's progress is reflected in the installation of digital audio recording equipment, the launch of pilot courts, and the growth of civic engagement and legal education initiatives. These achievements demonstrate the project's commitment to increasing court transparency, fairness, and efficiency, and to strengthening the rule of law in Albania. The Albanian Justice Sector Strengthening Project has made significant progress in its fourth year, with notable achievements in digital audio recording, civic engagement, and legal education. The project's implementing environment is driven by Albania's quest for accession into the European Union, and the project's progress is reflected in the installation of digital audio recording equipment, the launch of pilot courts, and the growth of civic engagement and legal education initiatives. The project's achievements in digital audio recording include the installation of equipment in 25 courts and 112 courtrooms, with three regional conferences held to promote the technology. The project has also made strides in civic engagement, with the Union of Albanian Judges achieving sustainability and active engagement in key policy issues. The Association of Journalists for Justice has become an active and vibrant organization, conducting exclusive investigations that have had a national impact. The project's progress is a testament to the commitment of the Albanian government, civil society organizations, and the international community to strengthening the rule of law in Albania. The project's achievements will have a lasting impact on the country's justice sector, and will contribute to the country's continued progress toward EU membership.