Locations
Joint Justice and Corrections Programme (JJCP)
Background
Somalia’s justice and corrections systems are fragmented and under-resourced, shaped by decades of conflict, weak governance, and climate crises. Trust in formal institutions remains low, with most Somalis relying on informal and customary mechanisms, which often exclude or harm women and marginalized groups. Moreover, these systems are further daunted by fragile justice mechanisms, compounded by entrenched clan power dynamics and systemic gender inequities. Over 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, with limited access to justice services. To address these challenges, the Joint Justice and Corrections Programme (JJCP) promotes a people-centered Somali Justice and Corrections Model, integrating formal and informal systems, strengthening institutions, and empowering communities to rebuild trust, legitimacy, and equitable access to justice across Somalia.
About the Project
The UN Joint Justice and Corrections Programme for 2023 – 2027 aims at promoting people-centred justice sector reform and service delivery. It will support formal and informal rule of law actors at local and FMS levels to design and implement integrative justice solutions through generative dialogues, promote political dialogue, and accompany learning, collection of data, and coordination, to facilitate the process towards a Somali Justice and Corrections Model which is people-centred, owned, sustainable and adopted.
| Project Status | Ongoing |
| Project Duration | June 2023 – May 2027 |
| Total Project Budget | $ 16 million |
| Focus Areas | Security, rule of law, access to justice, people centered justice reform |
| Contributing Partners | European Union and the Netherlands though Somali Joint Fund (SJF) |
| Partner Agencies | United Nations Transitional Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNTMIS) and United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) |
| Implementing Partners | The line ministries and justice sector institutions at the federal and state level |
| Project Manager | Petrit Skenderi |
Key Planned Objectives:
- A sustainable and legitimate justice and corrections system, based on people-centred and community-led approaches, can deliver improved justice solutions; and
- Justice solutions are designed using participatory processes and implemented at local and FMS levels.
Achievements so far
- 2 Political dialogues held towards a people-centred Somali Justice and Corrections Model, resulted in the implementation plan for the operationalization of the Justice and Correction Model. Then JCM model and its implementation handed over to the ICRIC and OC for incorporation with constitutional review process.
- First National Justice Sector Strategy (2025-2029) developed through using system thinking and innovative approaches, and wider consultation with more than 1,000 people involved.
- 23 generative dialogue sessions held with the justice issues identified and co-created local Justice solutions
- 1,032 people (36% women) engaged in generative dialogue in the FMS
- 1,500 beneficiaries supported by the ADR mechanisms (40% women beneficiaries)
- 300 Rule of law and community actors trained on integrative justice solutions
- 400 trained in restorative Justice dialogue
- Transformative leadership training for 117 of the rule of law leaders (FGS and FMS), including courts, police, attorney general, and custodial corps, enhanced cross-sector engagement
- 7 topics for which integrative justice solutions are adopted (including women’s access to justice, Minority access to justice, SGBV…)
- Integrative justice practitioners' network established
- 16 paralegals and community liaison officers were capacitated on integrative justice solutions ing exchanges connecting integrative justice practitioners from different areas of intervention
Expected Results
- Increased trust in the justice institutions
- Increased the capacity of the formal and informal justice sector on integrative justice solutions
- Local Integrative justice solutions adopted and implemented
- Justice policies adopted that reflect the community needs
- Justice sector strategy adopted and implemented
- Operationalized a federated Justice and correction Model (JCM)
- Functional ADR mechanisms established in key locations
- Adoption and Implementation of a Reformed Prison Law
- Improved Prison Conditions and Rehabilitation Services
- Operational Community-Based Corrections Systems for Reintegration
