International Development Grant
Justice Undertakings for Social Transformation - Department of Justice Canada and the UNDP
Project Number: CA-3-A032861002
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $10,601,619.00
Start Date: July 16, 2008
End Date: June 30, 2021
Duration: 13.0 years
Project Description
This project aims to foster an improved sense of security for Jamaicans by contributing to the strengthening of Jamaica’s justice system. A modernised justice system that engenders trust and confidence. The program works on three complementary fronts: order in institutions – strengthening justice institutions so that they are better able to contribute to order; order in legislation – promoting legislative and policy reforms that better position the state to ensure security and; order in society – encouraging communities to provide input into justice system reform which leads to improved personal security. Project activities include: (1) assessing and supporting the managerial financial and organizational capabilities of justice-related institutions; (2) strengthening government departments through expert advice monitoring and coaching research training programs and workshops; and (3) supporting the review of selected existing legislation regulations and policies. This project will benefit all Jamaicans especially the most disadvantaged groups.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) a more efficient transparent and gender-responsive functioning of the justice system in Jamaica; and (2) justice services that are more customer-focused and gender responsive.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of March 2016 include: (1) a corporate and organizational structure for the Ministry of Justice was developed; (2) a justice sector reform implementation plan was developed; (3) a citizen scorecard was developed to obtain and action feedback on justice issues; (4)14 judges and 6 magistrates were trained in case management; (5) a draft of the judicial Bench book for the Supreme Court of Jamaica was completed; (6) 24 court staff were trained on case flow management and case processing; (7) a standardized judgement template was completed and 30 judges and 28 court staff received training on its use; (8) 55 court staff representing Judges of the Supreme Court Parishes Judges and 41 Clerks of Court received sensitization training in relation to new legislation and procedures; (9) the Prosecutor’s Manual for Jamaica was developed and published; and (10) 100 Crown Counsel and Clerks of Court received training on the contents of the manual. These results have contributed to increasing the capacity of the Ministry of Justice of the courts and of public prosecutors to manage and implement their core business. Results in March 2019 - the penultimate year of the program which saw the completion of the "legal technical assistance" component: (1) the Department of Justice has been restructured into a policy-oriented entity with a new unit responsible for the company profile and justice policy. More than C$6 million has been invested in ICT resources and technology infrastructure development. More than C$1 million has been invested in human resource development with more than 100 trained staff. (2) Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions - has developed a prosecution manual which has become a standardized knowledge-based tool for the use of prosecutors clerks and other legal professionals. Investing in ICT resource upgrades by equipping the BDPP with mobile technologies video conferencing hardware and knowledge management software. (3) The Cou
Key Information
Executing Agency:
Department of Justice Canada
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
NGM Americas
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP