Home » Economic Governance » Economic Reform Programs » ROLE
RULE OF LAW EFFECTIVENESS (ROLE) PROJECT
Objectives
The ROLE Project is designed to support USAID/Philippine's 2005 Strategic Objective 2, "Performance of Selected Government Institutions Improved." It is a three-year project working with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines in the areas of anticorruption, judicial reform, anti-money laundering, anti-trafficking in persons, and intellectual property rights protection.
The ROLE project assists counterparts to improve and implement their strategic plans through timely technical assistance and tailored training programs. The goal is to help counterparts to improve government policy, administration and judicial efficiency by reducing opportunities for corruption and improving court systems. In addition to its primary focus on anti-corruption and judicial reform, ROLE also provides assistance to anti-money laundering and anti-trafficking in persons efforts in the Philippines.
Goals
To achieve the USAID's objectives the ROLE Project has five main goals:
Corruption becomes a high risk, low reward activity
ROLE provides technical assistance and training to counterparts to help them develop and enhance their strategic plans. ROLE also assists in the formulation and assessment of customized results-oriented performance management systems. Training activities include the development of skills in detection, investigation, and prosecution of corruption offenses.
Scope and opportunities for corruption reduced
ROLE supports its counterparts to implement a corruption diagnostic instrument, the Integrity Development Review (IDR), which examines an agency's practices and procedures for their vulnerability to corruption. Based on the results, it helps the counterpart to formulate an agency-wide anti-corruption plan to reduce the opportunity for corruption.
Improved Judicial Efficiency
ROLE provides technical assistance and training to the anti-graft court (Sandiganbayan) to improve courtroom- and case-flow management in support of the Speedy Trial Act. ROLE is developing software that will facilitate better case management, providing training to justices in courtroom management, and assisting in the development of new rules of court.
Improved anti-money laundering regime
ROLE has developed training for both government and the private sector to insure better compliance with "know your customer" and suspicious transaction reporting requirements. ROLE also provides technical assistance for the development of rules on civil forfeiture and other matters related to the anti-money laundering, such as the proceeds of crime.
Selected laws better enforced
With respect to anti-trafficking in persons, ROLE assists government counterparts and civil society partners to promote awareness of trafficking and foster greater public involvement. ROLE also provides training opportunities for its partners to help them more effectively enforce the law. ROLE provides technical assistance and training to the Optical Media Board to strengthen its organizational capacity for enforcing intellectual property rights.
Counterparts
In many aspects of its work, ROLE seeks to implement its objectives through a broad coalition of donor agencies and counterparts. This partnership approach leverages ROLE resources and multiplies its strengths. The project's counterparts include:
-
Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC)
Bureau of Customs (BOC)
Commission on Audit (COA)
Civil Service Commission (CSC)
DOF Revenue Integrity Protection Service (RIPS)
Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT)
Multi-Sectoral Network Against Trafficking in Persons (MSNAT)
Office of the Ombudsman
Office of Chief Presidential Legal Counsel (CPLC)
Optical Media Board (OMB)
Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC)
Sandiganbayan
Supreme Court
Grants
The ROLE Project supports practical, results-oriented activities through a small grants program. Activities supported with grants are focused on prevention, public education and awareness activities in corruption and trafficking. The small grant program supports activities that:
Corruption
-
increase public awareness about the causes and costs of corruption;
promote public whistle-blowing and participation in anti-corruption campaigns;
increase citizen awareness of their legal rights and responsibilities with regards to corruption and citizen rights to obtain public services;
increase transparency and accountability in government operations and decision making processes;
provide external monitoring and oversight of government operations and decision making;
design and implement reforms in governmental organizations to reduce opportunities and rewards for corruption.
Trafficking in Persons
-
increase public awareness about trafficking within vulnerable communities;
support rescue and reintegration of trafficking victims;
provide litigation assistance to the victims of trafficking;
design and implement systems to measure the magnitude of the trafficking problem.
Proposals for grants can be submitted to ROLE at any time and will usually be funded in the first quarter of the calendar year.
Contact Information
Rule of Law Effectiveness Project (ROLE)
88 Corporate Center, Suite 3004
141 Valero St.
Salcedo Village, Makati 1227
Tel: (632) 729-0575 to 78
Fax: (632) 729-0570
jagee@role-msi.org.ph