New Justice Financing Framework Launched to Expand Access to Justice for Everyone, Everywhere
Developed by the Justice Action Coalition, through a collaborative effort between Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies at NYU’s Center on International Cooperation (CIC), the Overseas Development Institute (ODI Global) and the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), the Justice Financing Framework draws on more than 40 years of experience from front line service delivery in the health and education sectors, which have successfully scaled essential services to millions of people over the last quarter-century. The Justice Financing Framework adapts these lessons to the justice field, offering a structured pathway for governments to shift from traditional justice delivery approaches towards people-centered front line services.
“ODI Global is delighted to have contributed to the development of the Justice Financing Framework. We know that to deliver people-centred justice, we have to budget for people-centred justice,” said Kathryn Nwajiaku-Dahou, ODI Global’s Director of Politics and Governance. “The Financing Framework provides important financing and budgeting ambitions, benchmarks, and guidance to drive real change in justice service delivery and outcomes.”
A Framework for Rebalancing Justice Budgets
At its core, the Justice Financing Framework recognizes that justice systems must begin with, and be accountable to, the people they serve. This requires new approaches focused on scaled-up service delivery at the community level, sectoral and regulatory reforms, and a stronger emphasis on innovation, research, and development.
“The Justice Financing Framework is critical because it finally gives governments and funders a clear and practical roadmap for investing in justice systems that actually work for people,” said Fernando Marani, Program Director of Justice, Inclusion, and Equality at CIC. “This framework shifts the paradigm by showing how smarter, targeted financing can expand access, strengthen institutions, and unlock the social and economic benefits of people-centered justice. It provides the evidence, the tools, and the urgency we need to drive real change, ensuring that justice is not a privilege for the few, but a lived reality for all.”
The new Framework introduces a pioneering set of four financing ambitions for justice sectors, providing a quantitative starting point for governments to rebalance their budgets in support of people-centered justice. These ambitions are paired with seven policy recommendations that guide decision-makers in ensuring justice funds are spent effectively and strategically.
“People deserve justice that meets them where they are—in their communities, in their daily lives, and at the moments when it matters most,” said Jude Udo Ilo, CEO of HiiL. “The Justice Financing Framework shows how countries can make that a reality. By drawing on decades of experience from sectors that have successfully scaled front line services, it offers a practical and hopeful roadmap for transforming how we invest in justice. It invites governments to move beyond old models and build systems that truly respond to people’s needs, with innovation, empathy, and impact at the core.”
Supporting Decision-Makers with Practical Guidance to Finance People-Centered Justice
The Justice Financing Framework offers justice sector leaders and executives actionable guidance for:
- Aligning justice budgets with the most pressing justice problems people face.
- Identifying sustainable revenue sources.
- Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of justice spending.
- Setting clear, people-focused priorities.
- Encouraging responsible private sector engagement.
- Reviewing and restructuring spending across the justice ecosystem.
- Planning realistically based on available resources.
These recommendations help governments transition from fragmented, supply-driven justice spending to approaches rooted in resolving people’s justice problems and strengthening trust in institutions.
A Tool for Countries Advancing Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16+
By supporting national strategies to expand access to justice, the Justice Financing Framework contributes to achieving SDG16+, particularly SDG16.3, which aims to ensure equal access to justice for all. The Framework is designed for adaptation across diverse political, economic, and legal systems, providing a practical roadmap for countries committed to building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
The Justice Financing Framework is now available for download at: https://www.sdg16.plus/justice-financing-framework.
About the Justice Action Coalition
The Justice Action Coalition is a multi-stakeholder alliance of countries and organizations working to achieve measurable progress in justice outcomes for people and communities by the third SDG summit in 2027 and beyond. The secretariat for the Justice Action Coalition is hosted by the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Learn more on the Justice Action Coalition website.
About the Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies’ Justice for All program
The Justice for All program acts as an impact hub, convening countries, civil society, and multilateral and regional organizations to close the justice gap by accelerating action on people-centered justice. It provides a platform to exchange innovative practices in data collection, evidence-based policy-making, and the effective use of resources to bridge silos and transform justice systems to prevent and resolve people’s common justice problems. Learn more on the Justice for All website.
About the Center on International Cooperation (CIC)
The Center on International Cooperation (CIC) at New York University (NYU) is a think tank and research center that, for over two decades, has been a leader in applied policy, connecting politics, security, justice, development, and humanitarian issues. Our mission is to inform and strengthen collaborative approaches and/or collaboration among national governments, international organizations, and the wider policy community to build trust, prevent and respond to crises, and advance peace, justice, and inclusion at all levels. Learn more on the CIC website and @nyuCIC on social media.
Media Contact:
Thibault Chareton
+1 (646) 306-8780
Thibault.Chareton@nyu.edu
