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Centre for Socio-Legal Studies

Abuja, Nigeria

Grants

2023 (2 years)
$1,100,000

Established in 2006, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) is a nonprofit organization that has carved a niche in promoting justice-sector reform, advancing the rule of law, protecting human rights, and deepening democracy. On Nigeria’s previous award to CSLS enabled the pioneering of a National Minimum Standards and peer review scorecard mechanism that guides federal and state governments in implementing the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and equivalent state-level Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL). Under this tie-off legacy award, CSLS consolidates criminal justice reform gains over the last eight-plus years by institutionalizing the application of the National Minimum Standards within the Federal Ministry of Justice. CSLS also strengthens its role as the civil society clearing house for ACJA review processes and constitutional amendments. In addition, CSLS strengthens its work to promote speedy trials of high-profile corruption cases. Finally, CSLS continues to mentor young lawyers (known as the “ACJA/ACJL Rangers”) to promote the innovations of the ACJA and ACJLs. CSLS coordinates the implementation of the project with the criminal justice cohort and other Foundation grantees. This award is part of a package of three legacy grants to CSLS, JURITRUST, and Legal Defence and Assistance Project, contributing to On Nigeria’s criminal justice strategy that seeks to institutionalize the ACJA, ACJL, and Anti-Corruption Agencies’ tools and methods that will sustain criminal justice reform long after On Nigeria exits the field.

2021 ( 3 months)
$50,000

The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) is a nonprofit organization promoting justice-sector reform, advancing rule of law, promoting human rights, and deepening democracy. This grant enables CSLS to convene a high-level one-day meeting of key criminal justice stakeholders to educate them on a proposed National Minimum Standards and Peer Review Scorecard tool developed to track and evaluate the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 at the federal level, and the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL) at the state level.

2020 (3 years)
$1,200,000

Established in 2006, the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) is a nonprofit organization with experience promoting justice-sector reform, advancing rule of law, protecting human rights, and deepening democracy. On Nigeria’s previous award to CSLS supported efforts to deepen criminal justice reform and fast-track the prosecution of high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria. With this renewal, CSLS is pioneering the development of national minimum standards and peer review scorecards for federal and state governments to track and evaluate the effective implementation of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and equivalent state-level Administration of Criminal Justice Laws (ACJL). CSLS is also convening virtual and in-person colloquia for appellate justices to discuss their role in the implementation and compliance of the ACJA provisions; serving as a civil society clearinghouse for constitutional and statutory reviews of the ACJA and related laws to advance criminal justice reform; and building a network of young lawyers to advocate for the innovations of the ACJA and ACJLs for generations to come. This award is part of a package of six grants contributing to On Nigeria’s criminal justice strategy that seeks to strengthen and deepen the legal framework for prosecuting criminal cases through implementation of the ACJA and ACJLs.

2019 ( 2 months)
$20,023

The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) is a non-governmental organization working on criminal justice reform and anti-corruption in Nigeria. This grant enables staff of CSLS and staff of Foundation grantees in the MacArthur-supported Criminal Justice cohort to travel to Brisbane, Australia to participate in the Conference of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law on the theme: Bribery and Corruption-Modern Approaches to an Eternal Problem. The conference is intended to sharpen the knowledge of participants by educating them on modern approaches to the problem of bribery and corruption. These lessons will improve the cohort’s program implementation efforts.

2017 (3 years 3 months)
$1,200,000

The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies is a nonprofit organization in Nigeria, established to promote reform in the justice sector, advance rule of law, protect human rights, and deepen democracy. With this award, CSLS is deepening criminal justice reform, and fast-tracking the prosecution of high profile corruption cases in Nigeria. Specific project activities include providing technical support for the Chief Justice's Monitoring Committee and the Heads of Courts; convening interactive capacity building seminars for appellate court judges; training investigators and improving witness participation in high profile corruption cases; and improving the operational capacity of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee. These efforts are expected to improve expediency in the handling of high profile corruption cases by reducing opportunities for delays in proceedings, and reversal of trial court decisions due to improved understanding of the ACJA by appellate judges.

2015 (2 years 5 months)
$500,000

The Centre for Socio-Legal Studies (CSLS) was established in 2006 to promote reform in the justice sector, advance rule of law, protect human rights, and deepen democracy. With this award, CSLS is providing technical assistance to agencies responsible for implementation of the reform measures embodied in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.  CSLS is developing an implementation strategy for the Act, conducting needs assessment of the implementing agencies, preparing training and implementation manuals, and educating the public about the Act. The ultimate outcome of this project is efficient management and quick dispensation of criminal justice cases including those on corruption.

2012 (3 years)
$300,000

The purpose of the grant to the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies is to facilitate the provision of technical assistance to the Panel on Justice Sector Reform established by the Ministry of Justice to coordinate and drive the implementation of initiatives developed over the past 12 years for the reform of the justice sector. The grantee will undertake a comprehensive study to determine the status of all justice reform initiatives with a view to harmonizing them for adoption. The Centre will organize consultations between the Panel, civil society organizations, legislators, judiciary, police, and prisons, and make recommendations to policymakers for adoption and implementation.

2010 (1 year)
$100,000

To consolidate justice sector reform.

2009 (1 year)
$240,000

To improving judicial protection of human rights.

2008 (1 year)
$183,000

To document the status of justice sector reform, human rights, and juvenile justice in Nigeria.