Efficient and Effective Justice Activity Quarterly Progress Report July 1, 2021 – September 30, 2021

The activity will support the Government of Sri Lanka's work to advance judicial reforms by increasing judicial efficiency, the quality of services, and transparency and accountability in the administration of justice. EEJ will also assist the improvement of judicial administration policies and standard operating procedures, introduce and promote international best practices and tools to improve case and court management, and strengthen the qualifications and professionalism of justice sector actors. EEJ began its operational and technical implementation startup activities in Colombo in September 2021. The operations startup team, led by Director of Operations and Programs Nimali Jayakody, began onboarding individuals who had been approved to work on EEJ. The team also commenced local procurement efforts, developing templates for a Transportation Services Agreement and blanket purchase agreements. A request for quotations (RFQ) was released for health insurance evaluation, and negotiations began for a lease agreement for a three-month extension on the current office space. Technical work planning commenced concurrently with operational startup activities. The Chemonics home office Project Management Unit (PMU) identified home-office Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Specialist Christopher Gegenheimer to begin collaboration with the technical team to draft the Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (AMELP) for the first annual work plan. Mr. Gegenheimer collaborated with local MEL Specialist Gajan Ganesalingam and incoming Chief of Party Dr. Irinel Cocos. EEJ places a premium on stakeholder engagement, emphasizing implementation through and with Sri Lankan counterparts. The former CORE Justice Chief of Party and current short-term Planning and Startup Advisor, Emery Adoradio, was engaged to support the transition process. He met with Government of Sri Lanka counterparts to introduce the new project and conducted discussions on implementation activities and moving forward with the startup. Mr. Adoradio met with the Attorney General and Deputy Director of the Sri Lanka Judges Training Institute on September 23, 2021, to discuss possible future activities under EEJ. A virtual meeting was held with the Additional Secretary and the Director of Reforms Division in Ministry of Justice to present the model courts case management system and discuss its potential to support the court digitizing process.