Access to Justice Activity (AJA)

Added: Feb 28, 2012 2:13 pm

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) on or about the end of the 2nd quarter of FY 2012 for an anticipated four-year Cost Plus Fixed-Fee Contract for the USAID/Colombia Access to Justice Activity (AJA).

The objective of this activity is to strengthen access to justice in Colombia. Access to justice is the ability to obtain a just and timely remedy for violations of rights as put forth in national and international norms and standards. Access to justice allows citizens to enforce their rights against infringement by the state, powerful private interests, and even those who may similarly be marginalized. These infringements often affect the poor and vulnerable segments of society, especially women, who have the least knowledge of and access to legal recourse. The basic premise of this project is that greater access to justice is a cornerstone for the rule of law which, in turn, is a key element for the establishment of democracy. This is particularly true in the Colombian consolidation regions, where establishment of the rule of law contributes to building the legitimacy of the state. The activity represents the continuation of USAID/Colombia rule of law programming and is expected to consolidate prior gains, strengthen institutions, and heighten the focus in consolidation areas. The activity's main objectives will be to promote greater access to justice in consolidation municipalities primarily through the services offered by justice houses and alternate dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms; provide support to institutions and organizations at the municipal level to assist in helping to meet the justice needs of women; and support justice sector institutions to implement reforms that improve productivity and the quality of services delivered, especially where reforms have an impact on justice sector performance in consolidation regions.