Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development

The Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development (GFLJD) is a network of organizations working at the intersection of law and development with the intention of creating and exchanging legal knowledge that promotes the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 (Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels).

Although strong legal and justice systems and institutions are internationally recognized as key drivers in development, the knowledge required to build them is unevenly accessible to stakeholders worldwide. Recognizing these information asymmetries, the World Bank and its development partners established GFLJD in 2011. GFLJD aims to address these gaps by connecting international financial institutions, international and regional organizations, governments, private sector entities, think thanks, academic institutions, and civil society organizations with relevant research and practices.

In addition to working towards the achievement of SDG 16, GFLJD’s objectives include:

• Strengthening and promoting a better understanding of the role of law and justice in sustainable development,
• Integrating legal and judicial institutions into the development process to increase development effectiveness,
• Encouraging the co-generation of innovative legal solutions and practices to foster enhanced development outcomes,
• Supporting the dissemination of legal solutions and knowledge to development challenges, and
• Encouraging inclusive partnerships built upon shared principles, values, and vision.

GFLJD comprises three entities: the GFLJD Steering Committee, GFLJD Partners, and the GFLJD Secretariat.

THE GFLJD STEERING COMMITTEE

The Steering Committee is the supreme governing and decision-making body of GFLJD. The Committee comprise GFLJD Partners selected as per the Revised Charter of the GFLJD adopted in 2019. The Steering Committee makes decisions on:

• The GFLJD areas and topics of focus and the GFLJD initiatives to meet GFLJD objectives;
• the operational strategies and procedures for the Working Groups activities;
• the establishment of Working Groups, their objectives, targets and scope of activities;
• the utilization of GFLJD funds and ensuring that they are in line with GFJLD objectives; and
• the GFLJD Secretariat’s work program.

The Steering Committee is composed of two categories of GFLJD Partners: Contributors and Observers. Contributors provide either financial, logistical and/or personnel support germane to GFLJD activities and/or products. Observers are international organizations, multilateral development banks and regional or national development agencies that are GFLJD Partners but do not necessarily contribute to GFLJD in a financial, logistical and/or personnel manner. GFLJD Steering Committee is chaired by the Senior Vice President and the World Bank Group General Counsel. Steering Committee members serve for a renewable term of three years.

Our current GFLJD Steering Committee members are the following:

• African Development Bank (AfDB)
• French Development Agency (AFD)
• French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
• German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
• International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
• International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)
• OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID)
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
• Public Prosecution Office of the State of Minas Gerais (MPMG), and
• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

GFLJD PARTNERS

GFLJD Partners are the current circa 150 organizations forming a network of collaborators that are part of the Global Forum. GFLJD Partners belong to two broad categories actively involved in the legal dimension of international development:

• International and regional organizations, such as IFIs, MDBs, regional development banks etc.
• National stakeholders, governments and judicial authorities, private sector entities, academic institutions, think tanks and civil society organizations.

Admission for GFLJD partnership is made after an application for partnership receives a positive due diligence assessment by the GFLJD Secretariat and is approved by the GFLJD Steering Committee. The status of GFLJD Partner is subject to intellectual and/or financial contribution to GFLJD, as defined in the GFLJD Charter.

THE GFLJD SECRETARIAT

The GFLJD Secretariat is responsible for the day-to-day operations of GFLJD, the coordination of GFLJD Working Groups and the implementation of the GFLJD Steering Committee’s policies and approved work plans. The GFLJD Secretariat is housed within World Bank headquarters in Washington D.C. and reports to the Chair of the GFLJD Steering Committee (Senior Vice President and World Bank Group General Counsel) on the progress of activities and progress on result targets. The staff of the Secretariat are selected by the World Bank and/or GFLJD Partners based on the professional profiles required for the efficient delivery of tasks assigned to the Secretariat.

WHAT IS THE GLOBAL FORUM ON LAW, JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT (GFLJD)?

GFLJD is a permanent forum that seeks to connect experts and stakeholders from around the world. Additionally, GFLJD provides a mechanism for continuous and efficient knowledge exchange and for the cogeneration of innovative solutions to development challenges based on efficiency, equity and justice. GFLJD is supported by an advanced technological platform.

WHEN WAS GFLJD LAUNCHED?

The GFLJD was officially launched during the World Bank Group Law, Justice and Development Week in November 2011, where Partners attended the signing ceremony of the letters of endorsement.

The GFLJD was initiated by the World Bank and stemmed from feedback received during the World Bank Law, Justice and Development Week of 2010 about the need for development experts, legal practitioners, policy makers, and academics to stay connected to discuss issues on a more permanent basis and to have opportunities to cogenerate innovative solutions to development challenges.

WHAT ARE GFLJD'S OBJECTIVES?

The key objectives of GFLJD are:

• To strengthen and promote a better understanding of the role of law and justice for a sustainable development through structured North-South and South-South dialogue;
• To better integrate legal and judicial institutions in the development process to increase development effectiveness;
• To encourage the cogeneration of innovative legal solutions to development issues; and
• To support knowledge dissemination by a free access, use and sharing of legal solutions to development challenges.

WHAT ARE GFLJD ACTIVITIES?

GFLJD activities may take different forms, including but not limited to:

• Carrying out research and assessment of regulations/legislations and legal and policy analysis
• Providing guidance and precedents
• Carrying out data collection and action research
• Institutional analysis
• Database of experts, peer reviewers, practitioners
• Training materials and capacity building

Also, a number of high-level events have taken place as of today.

WHAT ARE GFLJD'S AREAS OF FOCUS?

Based on the areas of interest expressed by GFLJD Partners, there are currently three open Working Groups (WGs) with particular areas of focus.  Additionally, GFLJD Partners have been working on various projects outside of WGs.  New areas of focus are constantly on the horizon depending on interest received from GFLJD Partners.

WHO ARE GFLJD PARTNERS?

GFLJD Partnership is made up of a broad group of think-tanks, regional and international organizations, international financial institutions, governments, judiciaries, the private sector, and civil society organizations.  GFLJD, initiated by the World Bank Legal Vice Presidency and some of its partners, has over the years attracted a broad spectrum of intellectual development partners (see List of Partners).

WHO CAN BECOME A GFLJD PARTNER?

Think-tanks, regional and international organizations, international financial institutions, governments, judiciaries, the private sector, and civil society organizations who are interested in the GFLJD’s mission are invited to join by signing a letter of endorsement, expressing therefore their commitment to contribute intellectually and/or financially to the GFLJD.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A GFLJD PARTNER?

As the GFLJD connects pockets of more readily shared knowledge, partners participating in the knowledge sharing, research, or dissemination components of GFLJD will benefit from Cross Global Knowledge Translation, i.e. they will have continuous opportunity to contribute to, and play a key role in the sharing of knowledge and evaluation of shared program outcomes and get new legal solutions to their own development issues.

WHO GOVERNS GFLJD?

All Partners have an important role in the GFLJD governance through its five bodies:

• The Steering Committee (SC) - a supreme governing body of the GFLJD composed of members who represent financial and intellectual Partners of GFLJD.
• The GFLJD Secretariat - a technical and administrative supporting body of the GFLJD.
• The Working Groups - are co-led by two or more intellectual Partners that will be accountable for the management and outputs of the overall working group.

WHO FUNDS GFLJD?

GFLJD Partners provide in-kind contributions and/or financial contributions. In-kind contributions include intellectual activities, publications, products, and expertise. Financial Partners’ contribution can be pooled in the Multidonor Trust Fund, or channeled via Single donor Freestanding Trust Fund, Externally Funded Outputs or provided directly to intellectual Partners via parallel financing.

WHERE IS GFLJD LOCATED?

GFLJD is a virtual permanent forum that does not have headquarters, except for its Secretariat which is hosted by the World Bank and located at the World Bank Headquarters in Washington DC.

HOW TO CONTACT GFLJD?

GFLJD Secretariat

c/o The World Bank

1818 H Street, NW

Washington D.C. 20433

Mail stop MC6-607

Email: globalforumljd@worldbank.org

HOW TO BECOME PART OF OR CONTRIBUTE TO GFLJD?

If you wish to become a Global Forum Partner, contribute financially, or make in-kind contributions, kindly contact the GFLJD Secretariat at globalforumljd@worldbank.org.

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