Reflections and insights from the Justice for the Poor program

Justice for the Poor (J4P) began more than ten years ago as an experimental program that aimed to address critical gaps in the theory and practice of promoting justice reform in developing countries. In particular, the program looked beyond technical forms of justice sector institutions to engage with the broader ‘rules of the game’ that shape how people in fact experience dispute resolution, claim their rights and pursue their interests. Recognizing that all development is ultimately about the distribution of rights, resources and responsibilities, and is inherently conflictual, the program focused on the role of law and norms in shaping the effectiveness and fairness of outcomes related to security and justice, development of land and natural resources, and service delivery. With support from DFAT, J4P supported analytical and operational engagements in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. In addition, the program engaged in Cambodia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Liberia. The program was also influential in shaping World Development Reports: in 2006, Equity; in 2011, Conflict, Security and Development; in 2012, Gender; and 2017, Governance and the Law.

This session will feature an open conversation, moderated by Veronica Taylor, with World Bank staff involved with J4P and counterparts from Australian government and academia to reflect on the principles, engagements and lessons of the program. It will examine the evolution of the program’s conceptual foundation, the efforts to put this in practice, and emerging applications in justice, governance and social development programming. It will also launch and on-line repository of J4P program materials.