The World Bank has approved new financing aimed at enhancing access to justice, efficiency, and transparency of judicial services for the citizens of Zanzibar. This initiative builds on the government of Zanzibar's ongoing reforms that emphasize the importance of accountable and effective justice institutions and efficient procedures.
"This support builds on the government of Zanzibar’s reforms over several years which recognize the importance of accountable and effective justice institutions and efficient procedures that foster an enabling environment for increased private sector investment. It will also contribute to unlocking the full economic potential of citizens and businesses," stated Nathan Belete, World Bank Country Director for Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The $30 million Zanzibar Judicial Modernization Project (Zi-JUMP) will enhance access to justice by increasing the geographic coverage of court services through the construction of five smart courts. It will also bolster alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and support the development of a gender justice strategy.
The project aims to increase court efficiency by investing in training for court staff, streamlining procedures, automating case management systems, and institutionalizing a performance management system. Additionally, it will promote collaboration between different institutions, raise public awareness about judicial services, and establish robust citizen feedback mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability.
Since 2016, the World Bank has been supporting mainland Tanzania’s judiciary through a similar project named Citizen Centric Judicial Modernization and Justice Service Delivery (CCJMP). The CCJMP has notably supported mobile court services for rural areas providing easier access to justice services for vulnerable groups such as women and those in poverty.
Under CCJMP initiatives, access to court services has significantly increased through the construction of six Integrated Justice Centers (IJCs), including Africa's first-ever IJC dedicated to matrimonial, probate, and family justice services. Eighteen subordinate courts have been built across mainland Tanzania serving over 13 million citizens. The project has resulted in a 27 percent increase in citizen confidence in justice services.
Zi-JUMP will promote innovations like those utilized by CCJMP, such as staff training and knowledge exchange programs, and a staff performance management system. The development and roll-out of a Judicial Information Management System (JIMS) will enable interface with other stakeholders’ systems for seamless data exchange and support sector-wide digitalization efforts.
"Building on the successes of the CCJMP, Zi-JUMP prioritizes early engagement with key stakeholders to identify critical gaps in judicial services and tailor interventions to address them directly," said Benjamin Mtesigwa, World Bank Senior Governance Specialist and Task Team Leader.