Projects & programmes: Public sector management

Helping the judiciary get back on track in DRC

After years of war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), one of the most weary and worn down travellers on the long road back to peace and normality has been the justice system. During the war years, and even through the establishment of the provisional government in 2003, many lawyers and judges were unable to practice. By the time elections were held in 2006, the justice system clearly needed help in reassuming its former role by helping to end conflict and assist the Congolese people as they went about the arduous task of rebuilding their country.

Approach

Working in tandem, the new Government and the Department for International Development (DFID) developed a complex and far-reaching change programme designed that would overhaul of the entire judicial system. In partnership with the faculty of law of Liege University and Bekolo & Partners (a top Cameroun training firm), PwC was selected to train the judiciary to better prepare them to lead and manage reform.

Outcomes

In addition to training legal professionals to manage change, avoid conflict, and develop the skills needed to set up the multi-disciplinary teams required to establish new courts, the programme also identified individuals who could provide effective management training to junior staff in the short- and medium-term.