Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA 492 12 000003
Apply for RFA 492 12 000003
- The Philippines USAID Manila in the law, justice and legal services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Judicial Strengthening to Improve Court Effectiveness (JUSTICE) Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 98.004 Non Governmental Organization Strengthening (NGO).
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 17, 2012 and posted on Jun 25, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2012 This opportunity will close on July 30, 2012 at 200pm Manila local time.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $20,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $20,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Judicial Strengthening to Improve Court Effectiveness (JUSTICE) Project is a USAID/Philippines grant opportunity designed to strengthen the rule of law in the Philippines by making the court system faster, more predictable, and more trusted. It aligns with rule of law priorities jointly identified by the Government of the Philippines and the United States Government under the Partnership for Growth (PFG) Joint Action Plan. In practical terms, the project is framed as part of a broader development strategy: improving how courts function is expected to reduce the costs and risks of doing business, raise investor confidence, and support more inclusive and sustained economic growth comparable to other strong emerging economies.
The opportunity focuses heavily on judicial efficiency, especially two persistent operational problems in many court systems: docket congestion and case delays. USAID notes that it has already supported pilot efforts in selected Philippine courts that showed success in improving efficiency, and the JUSTICE Project is intended to expand those tested approaches to a much broader set of courts and jurisdictions. The emphasis is on improving the speed and predictability of adjudication, particularly in case types that most affect economic activity and public trust, including corruption cases, commercial disputes, intellectual property rights violations, and contract enforcement matters.
Beyond efficiency, the project includes additional rule of law components meant to strengthen the wider justice environment. These include improving contract enforcement (so parties can rely on agreements being upheld in a timely, consistent way), strengthening enforcement of intellectual property rights (to support innovation and deter piracy and counterfeiting), and supporting integrity and confidence-building measures for the justice system (which can include efforts that promote transparency, reduce opportunities for misconduct, and build public trust in courts and related institutions). Taken together, the program aims not only to make courts move faster, but also to make outcomes more credible and reliable for citizens and businesses.
From a funding and administration standpoint, the grant was issued by USAID Manila as a discretionary opportunity under Funding Opportunity Number RFA 492 12 000003, with the activity category listed as Law, Justice and Legal Services. The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement, which typically means the recipient would implement the project with substantial involvement from USAID in strategic direction and oversight compared with a more hands-off grant structure. USAID anticipated making one award with an estimated total funding amount of up to USD 20,000,000, which is also the stated award ceiling (the award floor is listed as USD 0). The opportunity included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were expected to contribute some portion of project costs or resources as defined in the full announcement.
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, indicating that applications were open to a broad range of entity types, subject to any clarifications in the official eligibility section of the announcement. The posting date was June 25, 2012, with deadlines set for submission in Manila local time: the original closing date was July 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm, later extended to July 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm. The opportunity was archived on September 24, 2012. For access issues or questions tied to the full announcement, the listed point of contact was Ma. Belinda Y. de la Torre, Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID/Philippines, with telephone number (63)(2) 552 9927.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Judicial Strengthening to Improve Court Effectiveness (JUSTICE) Project
1) What is the JUSTICE Project grant opportunity?
The Judicial Strengthening to Improve Court Effectiveness (JUSTICE) Project is a USAID/Philippines grant opportunity designed to strengthen the rule of law in the Philippines by making courts faster, more predictable, and more trusted.
2) What is the overall goal of the JUSTICE Project?
The project aims to improve court effectiveness and judicial efficiency, with a focus on reducing docket congestion and case delays while improving the speed and predictability of adjudication. It also includes broader rule of law improvements intended to strengthen trust and reliability in the justice system.
3) How does this opportunity fit into broader development or economic goals?
USAID frames improved court performance as part of a broader development strategy: more effective courts are expected to reduce the costs and risks of doing business, increase investor confidence, and support more inclusive and sustained economic growth comparable to other strong emerging economies.
4) What rule of law priorities does the project align with?
The JUSTICE Project aligns with rule of law priorities jointly identified by the Government of the Philippines and the United States Government under the Partnership for Growth (PFG) Joint Action Plan.
5) What specific court-system problems does the project emphasize?
The opportunity focuses heavily on judicial efficiency, especially two persistent operational problems in many court systems: docket congestion and case delays.
6) Is the project building on previous USAID work in Philippine courts?
Yes. USAID notes it has supported pilot efforts in selected Philippine courts that showed success in improving efficiency, and the JUSTICE Project is intended to expand those tested approaches to a much broader set of courts and jurisdictions.
7) What types of cases are especially emphasized under this project?
The project emphasizes improving the speed and predictability of adjudication in case types that most affect economic activity and public trust, including:
- Corruption cases
- Commercial disputes
- Intellectual property rights (IPR) violations
- Contract enforcement matters
8) Besides court efficiency, what other rule of law components are included?
Beyond efficiency, the opportunity includes additional components meant to strengthen the wider justice environment, including:
- Improving contract enforcement (timely, consistent enforcement of agreements)
- Strengthening enforcement of intellectual property rights (support innovation and deter piracy/counterfeiting)
- Supporting integrity and confidence-building measures (transparency, reduced opportunities for misconduct, improved public trust)
9) What does "integrity and confidence-building measures" mean in this context?
Based on the description provided, these measures can include efforts that promote transparency, reduce opportunities for misconduct, and build public trust in courts and related institutions.
10) Who issued this grant opportunity?
The grant was issued by USAID Manila (USAID/Philippines).
11) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number is RFA 492 12 000003.
12) What is the activity category for this opportunity?
The activity category listed is Law, Justice and Legal Services.
13) What type of funding instrument is being used?
The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement.
14) What does it mean that the award is a "Cooperative Agreement"?
As described in the opportunity summary, a Cooperative Agreement typically means the recipient would implement the project with substantial involvement from USAID in strategic direction and oversight, compared with a more hands-off grant structure.
15) How many awards did USAID anticipate making?
USAID anticipated making one award.
16) What is the estimated total funding amount?
The estimated total funding amount is up to USD 20,000,000.
17) What are the award ceiling and award floor?
The award ceiling is listed as USD 20,000,000 and the award floor is listed as USD 0.
18) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. The opportunity included a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants were expected to contribute some portion of project costs or resources as defined in the full announcement.
19) Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, indicating the competition was open to a broad range of entity types, subject to any clarifications in the official eligibility section of the full announcement.
20) When was the opportunity posted?
The posting date was June 25, 2012.
21) What was the original closing deadline for submissions?
The original closing date was July 25, 2012 at 2:00 pm (Manila local time).
22) Was the deadline extended?
Yes. The deadline was extended to July 30, 2012 at 2:00 pm (Manila local time).
23) What does it mean that the opportunity was archived?
The opportunity was archived on September 24, 2012, indicating it is no longer an active, open solicitation under that posting.
24) Who is the point of contact for access issues or questions tied to the full announcement?
The listed point of contact is Ma. Belinda Y. de la Torre, Senior Acquisition and Assistance Specialist at USAID/Philippines.
25) What contact phone number was provided?
The telephone number provided is (63)(2) 552 9927.
26) What time zone applied to the submission deadlines?
The deadlines were specified in Manila local time.
27) What core outcomes is the project trying to achieve in the court system?
Based on the opportunity description, the core outcomes include faster adjudication, more predictable case processing and outcomes, and increased trust in the court system, especially for case categories tied closely to economic activity and public confidence.
28) Why does the project focus on contract enforcement and intellectual property rights?
The description links these areas to economic growth and investor confidence. Contract enforcement supports reliable business relationships, and stronger intellectual property rights enforcement supports innovation while deterring piracy and counterfeiting.
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