Justice Reform Practice GroupLegal Vice PresidencyThe World Bank

ABA Rule of Law Informational Series - May 4, 2011, Washington DC

Presenter:

Barry WalshSenior Justice Sector Specialist, Legal Vice Presidency, World Bankbwalsh@worldbank.org

Role of the World Bank

To fight poverty with passion and professionalism for lasting results.

To help people help themselves and their

environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors.

International Bank for Reconstruction and DevelopmentInternational Development Association

World Bank Group institutional structure – it is really five institutionsInternational Bank for Reconstruction and Development

(IBRD) – it lends to governments of middle income and creditworthy low income countries (1944)

International Development Association (IDA) – it lends interest-free loans (called credits) and also makes grants to governments of the poorest countries (1960)

International Finance Corporation (IFC) – it provides loans, equity and technical assistance to stimulate private sector investment in developing countries (1956)

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) – it provides guarantees against losses cause by non-commercial risks to investors in developing countries (1988)

International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) – it provides international facilities for conciliation and arbitration of investment disputes (1966)

World Bank Group managerial structure• The World Bank Group is structured under its

president into vice presidencies▫ Regional vice presidencies – covering global development

regions – i.e. ECA, MNA, AFR, LAC, EAP▫ Managerial vice presidencies e.g. human resources, chief

economist▫ Special vice presidencies, e.g. World Bank Institute,

external affairs

• The Legal Vice Presidency provides the Bank with general counsel services and it also has a role in advising on matters of justice sector reform – i.e. via its Justice Reform Practice Group

Justice Reform Practice Groupprovides advisory and research assistance to World

Bank staff and client countries for the purpose of developing institutions that are concerned with

▫ conflict resolution and prevention ▫ sound, equitable and enforceable laws▫ public safety

Co-ordinates with other vice presidencies of the Bank, each of which may be engaged in justice development activities within their respect areas of interest

See the Bank’s Law and Justice Institutions website:

www.worldbank.org/lji

Justice Reform Practice Group staff

• A small group of internal consultants who support Bank projects and programs that are usually funded and managed in other vice presidencies

• The group also leads the management of a range of small funds that relate to justice sector development (trust fund programs)

• The group leads the management of the Justice for the Poor Program, a trust fund predominantly funded by AusAID

• See the Justice for the Poor website:www.worldbank.org/justiceforthepoor

Our current focus• Strategy and policy development and dialogue

• Improving justice sector institutional performance

• Mainstreaming justice in development projects

• Justice in conflict-affected and fragile states

• Gender and justice

• Monitoring and evaluation in the justice sector

• Knowledge management

• Advisory services