Performance evaluation : final report : justice for a sustainable peace (JSP) activity

We carried out this evaluation between October 2019 and August 2020. In December 2019, we collected primary information by interviewing public and private organizations at the national level to accomplish this purpose. In February and March 2020, we conducted interviews and surveys in selected departments and municipalities. During this process, we interacted and received feedback from USAID and the implementing partner. We collaborated, attended meetings, and participated in initial interviews focused on understanding the program, shared documentary information and administrative records useful to produce the evaluation, supported a process to identify stakeholders in selected regions, and enabled activities during fieldwork. The main findings of this evaluation for the four reviewed components are: • Increased citizen support for the rule of law. Citizens, civil society organization (CSO) leaders, and participating officials positively perceive the work done by the JSP activity. They also recognize their contribution to improving knowledge of the rights and justice institutions. Likewise, greater participation of CSOs within the local justice systems is evident. However, these achievements have not yet translated to a significant increase in trust in justice or judicial institutions. • Gender strategy. The JSP organized their activities around: (i) institutional strengthening of Municipal Family Affairs Offices, the Attorney General’s Office, and Justice Houses to tackle gender-based violence (GBV) and violence based on prejudice; (ii) inter-institutional coordination on this matter focused on the construction and dissemination of pathway referrals, linking the community and CSOs to local justice systems, and on deploying national-level actions to improve local understanding of relevant regulations and jurisprudence; and (iii) addressing impunity and strengthening the GBV capabilities of local CSOs through the involvement of national non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and women’s CSOs in litigation and transference of knowledge from national NGOs to CSOs. The evaluation identified that institutional strengthening actions produce a better understanding and approach to GBV and violence driven by prejudice; the need to promote and consolidate inter-institutional coordination at all levels to improve attention of these issues; and the importance of legal representation dynamics cases at the local level and the transfer of knowledge to CSOs. • Methods of conflict resolution (alternative dispute resolution, or ADR). In this regard, some externalities (for example, the new government changing focus and prioritizing the local and rural justice model) altered the JSP activity’s strategy, which implied some delays. However, the JSP was right in designing a plan to enact the ADRs. In the medium term, the JSP must strengthen this strategy to guarantee the proper use of the mechanisms. • Private sector engagement. The JSP design considered works with three types of private organizations: private companies, law firms, and universities. The results for this component are limited, and only one consolidated public-private partnership is in place. Improving and strengthening the work strategy in this component is a needed initiative