This project was implemented through a grant from ADALAT Project of USAID. The project developed by OEDA was BRIDGE: Better Rights Information & Dispute Governance Enhancement.  The overall goal of BRIDGE was to contribute in permanently transforming the flawed culture by transitioning both dispute resolvers and the public away from inaccurate or harmful concepts of justice. Lead them toward greater awareness of and respect for Afghan law, equitable treatment of disputants (including women), and human and other rights through adopting the JEM framework of action in western Herat province. The specific objectives of BRIDGE were to:

• Increase public awareness about the constitutional rights and responsibility of the public in general and critical mass (as defined by JEM) in particular, through implementation of the JEM training, coaching and mentoring activities.

• Be the bridge, i.e. establish sustainable, adequate, and efficient collaboration mechanisms adopting JEM framework between the formal and informal justice stakeholders

• Reduce disputes in terms of frequency and seriousness as a result of both better public awareness, and better collaboration between justice actors.

The project envisioned implementation of the JEM model in two districts of Herat. As the name suggests, it contributed to the three objectives of the JEM, equipping communities with the required legal information through the JEM model’s training schemes that resulted in improved awareness, and therefore fair and transparent local justice services. The ‘dispute governance enhancement’ is about improved and value-added collaboration between formal and informal justice actors. Altogether, this will result in reduced disputes in terms of frequency and seriousness. Therefore, covering the three core objectives as outline by Afghanistan Justice Engagement Model.  The grant implementation involved adopting the Justice Engagement Model, with slight adjustments to meet the local needs of western Herat province. The entire program involved a myriad of different activities including assessments, selection (district and participants), work plans development, training, networking meetings, legal education workshops, coordination meetings, discussion sessions, public outreach, and M&E. The entire life of the grant was managed in two phases of core programming and maintenance activities