Afghanistan Justice Sector Support Program (JSSP)

Funded by: The United States Department of State
Bureau of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL)

Contractor: PAE Inc.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Afghanistan Justice Sector Support Program (JSSP) is a multi-pronged effort to develop and strengthen the capacity of the Afghan criminal justice sector institutions and justice professionals. JSSP is funded by the United States Department of State/Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL). PAE is INL’s prime contractor responsible for implementing JSSP. Through capacity building, technical advice and direct assistance, JSSP helps the justice institutions and the justice professionals perform their respective roles in delivering fair and effective justice services to the citizens of Afghanistan. In addition to working with justice institutions, JSSP participates in a variety of projects designed to promote access to a fair and effective justice system.

JSSP provides technical assistance and training through a team of advisors who focus on component objectives. The Advisors Team consists of the following six sections:

1. Attorney General’s Office Assistance Section (AGOAS);

2. Ministry of Justice Assistance Section (MOJAS);

3. Judicial Assistance Section (JAS);

4. Access to Justice and Integration Section (AJIS);

5. Gender Justice Assistance Section (GJAS); and

6. JSSP-Regional Section (JSSP-R).

ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE ASSISTANCE SECTION (AGOAS)
The primary goals of the AGOAS are to strengthen the capacity of the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to function efficiently, fairly and independently, emphasizing its ability to conduct investigations and prosecute criminal cases; to improve police-prosecutor coordination and cooperation; and to inculcate within the AGO the highest ethical, managerial and professional standards. The integrity and credibility of the AGO and the effective investigation and successful prosecution of corruption crimes are the highest priority of the Attorney General (AG), and therefore a priority focus of the AGOAS. The AGOAS also provides legal advice and assistance, upon request, to the U.S. Embassy.

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE SECTION (MOJAS)
The MOJAS, primarily through its embedded policy and strategy unit of national Legal Advisors and a Project Consultant, assists the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in fulfilling its role as the leading governmental justice institution. The MOJAS works to build management, technical and donor coordination capacity within the MOJ, and supports the MOJ’s work to develop strategies and plans within the framework of the Afghanistan Compact and the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS). The MOJAS also promotes access to justice through criminal defense, juvenile justice, public awareness and human rights. In addition, the MOJAS provides advice and assistance, upon request, to the U.S. Embassy.

JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE SECTION (JAS)
The JAS was created recently in response to the need for judicial training, mentoring and reform. The purpose of the JAS is to assist members of the Afghan judiciary system in enhancing the profession of trial and appellate judges. Members of the JAS will advise the Supreme Court human resources office on initiatives to reform promotion, selection and discipline of judges. Trials will be monitored to maintain awareness of current procedures and outcomes. The JAS advisors are responsible for developing curriculum and programs to assist and support the Supreme Court.

ACCESS TO JUSTICE SECTION (AJS)
The AJIS provides criminal justice trainings throughout Afghanistan, promotes initiatives and conducts provincial justice activities. In conjunction with the Independent National Legal Training Center (INLTC), the AJIS helps build the capacity of the Afghan legal community to provide legal education and training through existing legal institutions. The AJIS raises awareness of the formal criminal justice system and identifies problems confronting justice officials outside of Kabul by working with Afghan local and national leaders to enhance the administration of justice at the local level. The AJIS also works to enhance communication and cooperation between the Afghan criminal justice institutions.

GENDER JUSTICE ASSISTANCE SECTION (GJAS)
The GJAS is tasked with promoting gender justice initiatives, with a specific focus on the rights of women. This is done through providing advisory services and support to various Afghan government entities; including the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and agencies that provide direct frontline support to women, such as Family Response Units and Victim Advocacy Referral Centers. The GJAS also provides training and capacity building services to police, prosecutors, defense attorneys and corrections officers, so they are able to understand and correctly apply laws that directly affect women. The GJAS also conducts public awareness campaigns in the form of conferences and media campaigns to provide information as to the legal rights of women in Afghanistan and the resources available to them.

JSSP-REGIONAL (JSSP-R) SECTION
The JSSP-R’s primary mission is to build the capacity of prosecutors working within the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), investigators working in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Afghan National Police (ANP), judges at all court levels, and criminal defense attorneys. The JSSP-R provides education, training, mentoring, capacity building and advisory services programs from regional training centers (RTCs) located near major urban centers across the country – Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kunduz, Jalalabad, Paktia, Kandahar and Bamiyan. Teams at each station include 12 staff: four U.S. Justice Advisors; four national Legal Advisors (university graduates from law or Shari’a faculties); three interpreters; and one administrative assistant.

JSSP-R provides four inter-related programs/services:

1. An eight week Focuses District Development Law Program (FDD-Law), standardized lesson plans, instructional materials and learning activities;

2. A 24-day Remote FDD-Law (conducted in provinces outside the 8 provinces referenced above where the regional teams are located);

3. Advisory and systemic reform services; and

4. Capacity building services for national Legal Advisors and selected justice sector actors who will ultimately assume responsibility for the services we now provide.

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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

JSSP is recruiting for both criminal justice professionals as well as support staff. Interested applicants are encouraged to visit PAE’s Career Opportunities "Search" page at www.paegroup.com/career-search for more information (click "Justice Programs” on left navigation bar) or to submit a resume.

For a list of positions related to Afghanistan programs, type keyword “JSSP” and click the "Submit Search" button. A list of available positions will appear.

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CONTACT US

Afghanistan Justice Sector Support Program
PAE Inc.
1525 Wilson Blvd, Suite 900
Arlington, VA 22209
888-526-5416

For media inquiries, please contact PAE Communications.

For questions regarding a career opportunity or if you are having problems submitting/viewing your resume, please email job inquiries to JSSP Careers.

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