The USAID Rule of Law Program in Georgia is a five-year activity implemented by the East-West Management Institute, Inc. (EWMI) and funded by the US Agency for International Development. EWMI is a U.S.- based not-for-profit organization with extensive experience in supporting legal and judicial reforms around the world. The goal of the USAID Rule of Law Program is to strengthen the rule of law in Georgia by attaining the following objectives: 

Objective 1: Independence and effectiveness of justice system institutions strengthened 

Objective 2: Equal access to justice for all enhanced 

Objective 3: Citizen and institutional oversight of justice institutions increased

One of the main focuses of the Rule of Law Program under Objective 1 is improving the quality of legal education in Georgia by supporting academic institutions and other state and non-state actors. One way to help strengthen the rule of law in Georgia is to assist the country’s legal education system to produce high-quality legal professionals who are better equipped to promote justice. The 2021 ACT Legal Market Study[1] (full text of the Study provided on the link below), solicited by USAID/PROLoG, revealed that graduates of law programs satisfy the requirements of the labor market only partially and “there are serious deficiencies in terms of possessing practical and professional skills.”[2] It also identified the need for the professional development of lecturers at the regional universities as well as the need to attract more qualified staff.[3] Study participants from all target groups named theoretical learning as the strongest aspect and the development of practical and professional skills as the weakest aspect of university education.[4] “The existence of a legal clinic at universities where students acquire practical and professional skills under the direct supervision of lecturers within the university is considered particularly positive, However, the legal clinic is not available for everybody and programs with a large number of students face significant challenges.[5]

The USAID Rule of Law program aims at strengthening legal education quality and preparation to practice by: a) improving accreditation and national standards, b) strengthening teaching and curricula, and c) strengthening clinical legal education. The Program is inviting any state or private Georgian university having a law faculty, as well as educational institutions legally registered as non-commercial legal entities, to submit proposals contributing to strengthening legal education quality. The Program seeks to support interventions in the areas of improving legal education programs at Tbilisi and/or regional universities, including human rights as well as practical skills teaching, clinical legal education, promoting legal research and development of academic research materials, working on improvement of national standards on legal education and standards of law school accreditation, creating opportunities for the further professional development of the law faculty of Georgian universities, and developing a program for the academic exchange of students and faculty of regional universities with universities in Tbilisi.

The Open Door grants mechanism will support universities' and educational institutions’ proposals providing innovative solutions and ways of supporting the above objectives. The Open Door mechanism reviews grant applications on a rolling basis. It is not intended for funding proposals that fall within the mandates of already announced grants competitions.[6]

Eligibility

Any state or private Georgian university having a law faculty, as well as educational institutions legally registered as non-commercial legal entities may apply. For Tbilisi-based universities/educational institutions, collaboration with at least one regional law school in carrying out the project is strongly encouraged.  The priority will be given to those educational institutions that do not have ongoing USAID Rule of Law Program sub-awards.  

Timeline 

Proposals can be submitted any time before September 22, 2023, at 23:59pm. 

Deadline for submission of written questions: June 16, 2023, 18:00 pm. 

Selection criteria 

The following general criteria will be used to assess the projects: 

1. Degree of compliance with the Program objectives; 

2. Scope and relevance of the project’s impact; 

3. Effectiveness of project methodology; 

4. Cost-effectiveness of the project; 

5. Effectiveness of the monitoring and evaluation plan; 

6. Sustainability of the project (please note that sustainability can refer to activities, structures, knowledge, and outcomes that result from the project implementation); and

7. Capacity to implement the project. 

Grant Funds 

The maximum budget for grants will be $25,000, with project activities lasting for 6-12 months. 

The following program activities cannot be supported by the USAID Rule of Law Program: 

1. Support for or lobbying on behalf of a particular political party; 

2. Religious activities; 

3. Capital construction projects for commercial purposes;

4. Translation of textbooks or any legal materials;

5. Subscription fees for online platforms. 

Proposal Submission Process: Applicants must first submit short proposals and budget summaries. Short-listed applicants will be asked to fill out detailed grant application forms. 

Applications must be submitted electronically in English or Georgian to info.rolp@ewmi.org. Emails must have Open-door Grants on Legal Education in the subject line. Application Forms can be obtained from the www.jobs.ge announcement. Requests for additional information should be sent to Nino Balanchivadze, Legal Education and Bar Reform Advisor at nbalanchivadze@ewmi.org

[1] Legal Market Study in Georgia, page 8. ACT, 2021, shorturl.at/JLWY0 

[2] Legal Market Study in Georgia, page 5. ACT, 2021 https://bit.ly/3v0PEoj 

[3] Legal Market Study in Georgia, page 8. ACT, 2021 https://bit.ly/3v0PEoj

[4] Legal Market Study in Georgia, page 8. ACT, 2021 https://bit.ly/3v0PEoj

[5] Legal Market Study in Georgia, page 8. ACT, 2021 shorturl.at/JLWY0

[6] For the information on the grant competitions, please, check the jobs.ge website