Vanuatu Legal Sector Strengthening Program (VLSSP)

History

In 1996 the Government of Vanuatu (GoV) requested assistance from the Government of Australia (GoA) to strengthen the Vanuatu public legal sector.

In August 1999 the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) settled project design documentation with the GoV and NSWAGD were approached, due to the Department’s expertise and resources, to manage the project. Subsequently in May 2000 NSWAGD were contracted to act as project manager for the VLSSP.

The purpose of VLSSP is to support a stable and responsive government in Vanuatu by building sustainable administrative and legal capacity within each of the three public legal offices in Vanuatu. The three offices include the State Law Office (SLO), the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) and the Public Solicitor’s Office (PSO).

The third phase is due to end in December 2010. NSWAGD do not know whether the contract will be extended beyond this point.

The VLSSP, which is currently in its third phase of implementation, was launched in December 2000, after the Attorney General’s Department was asked to manage the project on behalf of AusAID (the Commonwealth Government agency that oversees Australia’s international aid program).