Non-state bodies will be eligible for legal assistance funded with Official Development Assistance (ODA) if they submit valid applications to the Justice Initiative Facilitation Fund (JIFF).
“This is the first time the Government has used ODA to fund non-state projects in the judicial domain, which reflects well on its great effort and open attitude to legal reforms,” said Nguyen Thi Bich Diep, JIFF’s justice initiative advisor.
All funding to non-state bodies will focus on four key areas, i.e. popularizing the rights and opportunities of individuals under the law, improving access to independent legal advice, increasing public understanding of judicial reforms, and sharing on matters that have arisen following judicial reform.
First applications for JIFF funding must be made by October 29 and the organization will accept new applications every six months.
JIFF, which has a budget of 1.7 million euros (USD 2.2 million) up to June 2015, is a joint program organized by the Ministry of Justice, the European Union and the embassies of Sweden and Denmark.-