USAID Halts NGO Funding for Colombian Judicial Reform Project

Posted by Stephen Peacock - October 12, 2005 at 11:47 am
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) last week rescinded a potential $20.5 million contract that would have enlisted the help of nongovernmental organizations in its Judicial Reform Project in Colombia – a U.S. Dept. of Justice-assisted program whose stated goals include the strengthening of the government of Colombia's justice system and to “enhance access to justice (especially for the poor and disenfranchised).” It is unclear whether USAID is suspending the “pre-solicitation notice” calling for bids temporarily or permanently. Equally unclear is whether the agency is canceling the overall reform project or has chosen only to cancel portions involving NGOs and private contractors.

As reported in Narcosphere this past summer, targeted changes to Colombia’s judicial system included:

(1) Improved management of human rights cases in both national jurisdictions and international courts.

(2) Strengthened judicial processes related to demobilization of former members of illegal armed groups:

(3) Support administration of new jurisdictions and processes for "truth, justice and reparation", as required by enactment of a "Justice and Peace" law and future implementing regulations.

In an official modification to the original procurement document, USAID provide the following one-sentence description: “The purpose of this modification is to cancel the pre-solicitation for USAID/Colombia Justice Reform and Modernization Program.” It offered no further explanation or any suggestion of when – or whether – it would resume this part of the project.

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About Stephen Peacock

I'm currently a high school English teacher and writer. I'm also a former Washington, DC, journalist, having worked for Communications Daily and Washington Internet Daily (WID), investigative newsletters that cover the telecommunications, broadcast and Internet industries. Following the 9/11 attacks, my news beat expanded beyond Capitol Hill telecom/TV/IT policy and began to include technology-policy coverage at the Pentagon and Dept. of Homeland Security. I've written over a thousand articles about government and industry affairs, and I'm pleased to say that I was the reporter who broke the story about the Total Information Awareness surveillance/data-collection initiative of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. I've written articles for publications including NACLA Report on the Americas, Drug Enforcement Report, Corrections Journal, and The Tampa Tribune. I've also written a memoir about my former career as a plainclothes security officer of the Helmsley Palace hotel in New York City, Hotel Dick: Harlots, Starlets, Thieves & Sleaze.
http://jerseysandstorm.blogspot.com/
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Colombian Court-Reform Plan Restored

Submitted on December 1st, 2005 by Stephen Peacock
USAID yesterday took steps to restore the above-mentioned endeavor, while again proposing to spend $20.5 million for the project. The stated goal of the initiative is to "support Colombian judiciary initiatives to be more independent, effective and transparent," and to broaden "free and timely access to legal services for millions of economically or socially disenfranchised, violence impacted and/or geographically marginalized Colombians."

According to a Nov. 30 presolicitation notice, the JRMP will focus on "extending justice services to rural, conflict affected, and marginalized populations." USAID anticpates releasing a formal Request for Proposals in about two weeks.

Colombian Justice Reform Details, Map, Unveiled

Submitted on December 19th, 2005 by Stephen Peacock
USAID released additional details of its Colombian justice reform project, which will involved the development of a more centralized national justice system, an approach that will be conducted via regional "justice centers." A map of Colombia containing the proposed regions, in addition to background research and other data in English and in Spanish, are available via the links below.

USAID’s Proposed Local Judicial Centers Map; Zones Within Colombia (Mapa Casas Conciliacion y Zonas Gobierno - Version III

Report on Developing a Management Model for a Judicial Services Center Under the New Accusatorial System in Colombia, by DPK Consulting (Dec. 2005)

"Lineas de Accion” (Lines of Action report), Republica de Colombia, Rama Judicial del Poder Publico, Consejo Superior De La Judicatura, Sala Administrativa.

DEFENSORÍA DEL PUEBLO (Public Defense strategic plan)

International Donors/ACTIVIDADES DE COOPERACION INTERNACIONAL EN EL ÁREA DE JUSTICIA Y ESTADO DE DERECHO – COLOMBIA (Compiled June 2005)

Aug. 16, 2004 Colombia Justice Reform report by DPK Consulting (In English and Spanish/En Ingles y Español)

Memorias de Taller Oct. 6, 2004: Taller Sobre El Futuro de la Cooperación De USAID En Apoyo a La Reforma de la Justicia en Colombia

My apologies for the imperfect use of Spanish punctuation marks, a limitation imposed upon me by the use of a borrowed computer.

Florida Group Secures Colombia Justice Contract

Submitted on May 22nd, 2006 by Stephen Peacock
USAID on May 16 awarded a $14 million contract to the Miami-based Center for the Administration of Justice, Florida International University, specifc to the USAID/Colombia Justice Reform and Modernization Program.
 

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About Stephen Peacock

Personal Website
http://jerseysandstorm.blogspot.com/

Biography
I'm currently a high school English teacher and writer. I'm also a former Washington, DC, journalist, having worked for Communications Daily and Washington Internet Daily (WID), investigative newsletters that cover the telecommunications, broadcast and Internet industries. Following the 9/11 attacks, my news beat expanded beyond Capitol Hill telecom/TV/IT policy and began to include technology-policy coverage at the Pentagon and Dept. of Homeland Security. I've written over a thousand articles about government and industry affairs, and I'm pleased to say that I was the reporter who broke the story about the Total Information Awareness surveillance/data-collection initiative of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. I've written articles for publications including NACLA Report on the Americas, Drug Enforcement Report, Corrections Journal, and The Tampa Tribune. I've also written a memoir about my former career as a plainclothes security officer of the Helmsley Palace hotel in New York City, Hotel Dick: Harlots, Starlets, Thieves & Sleaze.