Professor Jon Eddy
The US-Afghan Legal Educators Program
January 26, 2011
BASICS
– Established 2005
– US Dept State/INL
– Initial term 3 years, $2 million
GOAL
– Train up to 20 professors in US
– Target: LLM degrees
– Gender equity
– Possible outreach beyond Kabul in
later years
PREMISE
– Frustration with short-term trainings
– Recognized need for long-term approach
to capacity-building
– Need to improve Afghan legal education
ACTUAL CONDITIONS
– Extreme isolation and poverty of faculties
– Major barriers to participation of women
– Non-existent English language capabilities
– Disillusionment with “assistance”
UW PRINCIPLES
• Work with both Law and Shari’a faculties
• Work with provincial universities
• Involve women equally with men
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
– Work closely with faculties at 5 universities
– Visits by Deans from all these faculties
– 15 successful LLM graduates
– Over 80 study visits to the United States
LESSONS
– Take time to build trust
– Build your program methodically
– Revise plans regularly
– Do NOT look for quick results
THE END