“Arkan” joins project to improve legal education in the West Bank & Gaza – USAID press release/Non-UN document

American-funded "ARKAN" Joins University Law Schools in Project to Improve Legal Education

This was originally published as a press release on March 21, 2005.

RAMALLAH — The American-funded "ARKAN" project and Al-Najah University School of Law signed a Memorandum of Understanding Monday to work together to improve the quality of legal education in the West Bank and Gaza.

A similar agreement is expected to be signed next week with the Al Quds University School of Law.

"ARKAN," also know as the Supporting Rule of Law Reform Project, is funded with a $4 million grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Dr. Rami Hamdallah, President of Al-Najah University, and Dr. Ahmad Mubarak Al-Khaldi, Dean of the law school, represented Al Najah at the ceremony. USAID was represented by Mr. Rasem Kamal, the Rule of Law Specialist in the agency's West Bank and Gaza Mission. Mr. Mustafa Mari represented "ARKAN."

During the ceremony, Mr. Kamal emphasized the importance USAID attaches to improving legal education in the Palestinian universities. He noted that this latest project compliments past efforts undertaken by USAID and involves extensive coordination with the Palestinian Authority.

The "ARKAN" project will provide crucial technical assistance to four law schools: Al Quds, Birzeit, Al Najah, and Al Azhar.

The project also will focus on the Palestinian Bar Association (PBA). Working with lawyers and civil society groups, "ARKAN" will strive to improve the capacity of the PBA, of lawyers and of the legal profession as a whole in order to provide citizens and the private sector with better legal services.

In order to improve the quality of legal education, "ARKAN" will supply university law schools with technical assistance and will support legal research and the introduction of modern teaching methods, such as moot court competitions.

"ARKAN" will also provide the law schools with legal reference materials and the equipment needed to give Palestinian lawyers the professional skills and legal knowledge necessary for practice in the 21st century.

Next week, Dr. Hasan Dweik, Acting President of Al Quds University and Dr. Mari of "ARKAN" are expected to sign the second Memorandum of Understanding.

"ARKAN", which began operations in September 2004, is a three-year project fully funded by USAID and implemented by Chemonics International in association with Massar Associates.

USAID has spent more than $1.5 billion in the West Bank and Gaza to combat poverty, create jobs, improve education, build roads and water systems, construct and equip medical clinics, and promote good governance. The agency has supported Rule of Law projects in the West Bank and Gaza since 1999.