Improving Legal Codes
& Providing
Specialized Training
Reforming the institutional environment often requires
reworking legal and administrative codes, as well
as judicial and administrative procedures.
IRIS helps develop model legislation and regulatory
structures. We also provide specialized training
for administrators, judicial personnel, and lawmakers.
IRIS activities in this area include
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Supporting administrative
and regulatory reform —
IRIS provides collaborative support to government agencies committed to administrative
reform, assisting in drafting and publicizing legislation, designing administrative
procedures, obtaining public feedback, and training agency staff.
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Improving commercial
law frameworks —
The IRIS approach to commercial law emphasizes stakeholder participation — ensuring
that laws and institutions resonate with local traditions and that they provide
appropriate solutions to identified problems.
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Strengthening the judiciary —
IRIS takes a comprehensive approach to judicial reform, addressing all the components
of a judicial system in an integrated fashion — courts of law, legal
and judicial training institutes, and legislative processes.
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Improving the legal environment for
access to enterprise finance —
Financial service development requires a supporting legal and regulatory framework.
IRIS analyzes and helps formulate new laws and regulations that facilitate micro-
and small enterprises’ access to business finance.
Administrative & Regulatory
Reform
IRIS provides collaborative support to government
agencies committed to administrative reform,
assisting in
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Drafting legislation
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Designing implementing
regulations and processes
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Training agency staff,
judges, and law students
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Incorporating public
participation into the reform process, through
deliberation councils, notice-and-comment rulemaking,
and regulatory impact analysis
- Educating the public
regarding new rights and requirements
More
on Administrative & Regulatory Reform.
Commercial Law Frameworks
In many developing and transitioning countries,
legal systems may be oriented to the protection
and promotion of particular individuals or entities.
Sound commercial law can benefit small businesses
and individuals whose property is less secure,
whose access to various kinds of services are
weak or non-existent, and whose contracts are
often unenforceable.
The IRIS approach — emphasizing
stakeholder participation — ensures that laws
and institutions resonate with local traditions and
that they provide appropriate solutions to identified
problems.
More
on Commercial Law Frameworks.
Judicial Strengthening
The rule of law is only as effective as its implementing
institutions — courts of law, legal and judicial
training institutes, and legislative processes.
IRIS projects address all these components in
an integrated fashion. Training programs for
judges and lawyers are designed to support streamlined
court systems and their procedural reforms. Similarly,
legislative processes are designed to incorporate
feedback from the public and from non-governmental
organizations.
More
on Judicial Strengthening.
Access to Enterprise
Finance
Insufficient or prohibitively expensive access
to financial services is a key obstacle to the
growth of micro- and small enterprises.
For microenterprises
that borrow without collateral — and often
outside of the formal financial sector — IRIS
helps determine the appropriate level of public
regulation and oversight. For enterprises that
access commercial credit against collateral, IRIS
helps to implement reforms that allow borrowers
to use moveable property as collateral to secure
loans, while instituting safeguards (such as a
collateral registry) to safeguard legitimate lender
interests.
More
on Access to Enterprise Finance.
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