Legal Professional Development and Anti-Corruption Program in Liberia (LPAC) Monthly Report (November 1 – November 30, 2016)

The program was designed to build on key policy and vision platforms of the Government of Liberia (GOL) in its first and second national Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS), and its Agenda for Transformation. LPAC seeks to promote a more effective and accountable formal justice sector through improved capacity of the legal professional training and regulatory institutions and improve the rule of law. LPAC consists of two components. Component A supports human and institutional capacity development (HICD) at four legal educational, information, and professional institutions: the Judicial Institute, the Law School, LiberLII, and the LNBA. The ultimate aim of Component A is to make those institutions financially and administratively sustainable and able to operate effectively with minimal international donor support. Component B supports the Government of Liberia to increase capacity to prevent, investigate, and prosecute corruption, including within the justice sector, and to educate the public regarding the fight against corruption in Liberia. During the month of November 2016, LPAC implemented several activities under Component A. The Judicial Institute (JI) conducted a Training Needs Assessment for Judiciary Personnel, which included a Court Bailiff's Training Needs Assessment in 14 courts at the Temple of Justice. LPAC also finalized the Judicial Training Needs Assessment instrument and reviewed it with the JI leadership team for implementation with Monrovia judges in January-February 2017. Additionally, LPAC supported the Public Defenders Training Program held in Ganta from October 31 to November 5, 2016, for 34 public defenders. LPAC also worked on several other activities under Component A, including the Professional Magistrates Training Program (PMTP) Cycle III Project Proposal, which has stalled at the Supreme Court. LPAC met with the Chair of the JI Board of Governors to discuss the proposal and resolve concerns regarding the proposed program modifications. LPAC also developed and implemented a remedial English course for eight PMTP students. Under Component B, LPAC supported the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) and associated Government of Liberia (GOL) entities in their efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict perpetuators of corruption-related crimes, and to educate the public regarding the fight against corruption in Liberia. LPAC extended technical assistance, capacity development, and support to LACC and also supported the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) with respect to coordination with LACC, civil society, and media organizations engaged in anti-corruption initiatives. LPAC's Monthly Activities Report for November 2016 highlights the progress made in implementing the program's activities and provides a summary of the results achieved. The report also includes a progress chart in tabular form reflecting the results to be accomplished as a result of program activities.