About

USAID’s Justice Activity in partnership with Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK) is hosting a Call on justice innovations to:  1) provide effective justice systems innovations that put peoples’ access to quality services and multiple means to solve their justice needs and everyday legal problems at the forefront; and 2) to generate new ideas and introduce innovation in the justice sector to facilitate effective collaboration between justice institutions and service providers, judicial support organizations, civil society actors, academia and the business community. 

The purpose of USAID’s Justice Activity in Kosovo is a more responsive justice system that generates greater public trust in the justice system and the rule of law. The Activity is organized by three integrated objectives:

1) Quality and Accessibility of Justice Services Improved
2) Citizen Understanding, Engagement, and Trust of the Justice System Improved, and
3) Effective Innovations in the Justice Sector Developed.

Innovation Centre Kosovo (ICK) is the leading local integrator of innovative businesses and entrepreneurship, aiding the visibility of Kosovo as the future business destination. The mission of ICK is to create new jobs and business prosperity in Kosovo through the use of ICT & innovation by supporting entrepreneurs, startups and existing businesses. As such, the role of ICK is to support entrepreneurship, innovation and commercially based business development, with a focus on information and communication technology.

Justice Innovation Call is a competition that aims to attract a diverse range of innovative proposals from individuals and organizations. Legal professionals, IT experts, students, computer scientists, software developers, members of the public, and professionals of various disciplines, including youth, women, marginalized and vulnerable groups are encouraged to ideate and create innovative ideas and solutions that will improve access to justice. Following the call, a five-day DevCamp will be organized to further develop the selected ideas, fostering collaboration, and refining the concepts. At the end of the boot camp, up to three winning ideas will be chosen based on their potential to bring about positive change. Subsequently, the winner/s of the Justice Innovation Call will receive support, resources, and guidance from the Activity. The financial support to the winners will be given in the form of grant up to 50,000 US$ to implement their innovative solutions.

Participation: Eligibility Criteria

Criteria:

1. Impact and benefit

• People centered
A people-centered approach to justice puts individuals at the center of the justice system. Applicants are expected to identify the unmet needs, legal barriers, or gaps that citizens face when realizing their legal rights. By placing people at the center this initiative ensures that the solutions are not product centric but places users and beneficiaries at the core of the innovation.


• Data driven
The proposed solution should be data driven. The applicants are encouraged to leverage primary and secondary research that supports the understanding of the problem that the solution is tackling.


• Meaningful change
The proposed solutions will serve as instruments for significant transformations in people’s lives. The applicants should have a clear vision about the measuring of the change that will occur as a result of their innovative solution. The impact can be in a community or specific target group. Explain how the product will impact the community, if it is targeted to a specific group and whether it can be scaled to other groups.

2. Innovation and creative solution

• The solution should be innovative and creative and specific about which dimension of the issue or justice challenge is being solved and innovative way. The applicants are expected to demonstrate a working dimension of innovation that guides the solution they are providing.

3. Value for money

• The applicant should explain in essence why is their solution the most favorable balance between the cost and the value that this product brings.

4. Sustainability

• The applicants are required to present a sustainability strategy plan as well as identify potential risks that may hinder the long-term sustainability of the product.

5. Technical Feasibility

• The sustainability and technical feasibility of implementing the proposed ideas, taking into consideration the available technology infrastructure, resources, and expertise. The criterion evaluates if the proposed ideas can be implemented considering available technology, resources, and expertise.

6. Potential for Public Trust and Engagement

• The potential of the ideas to improve citizen understanding, engagement, and trust in the justice system. This includes evaluating the ideas’ ability to enhance transparency, accountability, and public participation and their potential to address specific barriers that undermine public trust in the justice system.

7. Inclusivity and Equity

• The extent to which the proposed ideas promote inclusivity, diversity, and equity in the justice sector. This criterion assesses whether the ideas consider the needs and perspectives of marginalized and vulnerable groups, women, youth, and other underrepresented populations and whether they have the potential to reduce existing disparities in accessing justice services.

8. Track record and capacity

• The applicant should demonstrate previous achievements or experiences in the respective field or with respective stakeholders/organizations. Collaboration and partnership with stakeholders involved in the proposal would be a favorable advantage.

9. Team Expertise, Skills, Diversity, and Gender Representation

• This criterion encompasses the evaluation of the team members’ expertise, skills, diversity, and gender representation. It emphasizes the importance of assessing their qualifications, capabilities, and potential in relation to the proposed idea while considering the diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and gender representation within the team.

Please download Competition Manual for more information: Download Manual
Apply Here

Please address your questions to: [email protected]