Practitioner networks

Practitioner networks

South-South cooperation on organized crime. UNODC Photo Library.

Practitioner networks, also known as communities of practice, are groups of practitioners with common professional interests and knowledge needs, who share information, resources and comparative experiences, and may host community workshops, such as e-discussions, on their area of focus. Networks are a crucial means to exchange information and experiences, as well as to reserve institutional knowledge and memory. Information is provided here on some of the major rule of law practitioner networks and other relevant networks. Note that some of these networks may only be available to UN staff.

• Africa Capacity Building Initiative (ACBI) and the Justice Assistance Network (JAN). ACBI was established to coordinate UK Government efforts to build capacity in Africa and to share public sector skills and knowledge with African governments. The Justice Assistance Network aims to share best practice and help co-ordinate UK justice sector capacity building initiatives in developing and transitional countries.
• Africa Parliamentary Knowledge Network (APKN) aims to promote and enhance the sharing of ideas, experiences and good practices among parliamentary administrations, including in the area of legislative process, through an online fora and shared services, the organization of seminars and training sessions, and the promotion of thematic working groups and information portals.
• Alertanet is a portal on law & society, multiculturalism, indigenous peoples, legal pluralism, justice, penal control, alternative dispute resolution, human rights, woman and gender, democracy, critical theories of law & state, and Latin American issues. It is linked to the Latin American Network on Law and Society (‘Red Latinoamericana de Derecho y Sociedad’). Both are supported by the International Institute on Law and Society.
• Asia Pacific Judicial Reform Forum (APJRF) is a network of 49 superior courts and justice sector agencies in the Asia Pacific Region who have joined together to contribute to judicial reform in the region, and to create a network to support Asia Pacific jurisdictions committed to advancing judicial reform.
• Capacity.org is a web magazine and portal intended for practitioners and policy makers who work in or on capacity development in international cooperation in the South. Capacity.org is jointly published by: the European Centre for Development Policy Management (Netherlands), the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• Crisis Prevention and Recovery Practice Network (CPRPNet) run by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is a platform to exchange knowledge and experience around crisis prevention and recovery issues. The network’s target is primarily UNDP staff; interested staff should send an email.
• ConstitutionNet, a joint initiative of International IDEA and Interpeace, is a web-based resource center for those participating in constitution building, including leaders and members of constitutional commissions and assemblies, members of civil society, private actors, researchers and those providing technical or financial assistance.
• Democratic Governance Practice Network (DGP-Net) run by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) serves to strengthen the global governance community and enhance local, regional and global knowledge sharing strategies, through functions such as knowledge management, advocacy, partnership building, and professional development. Interested UNDP staff should send an email.
• Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform (GFN-SSR) works to promote a better understanding of security and justice sector reform through research, information sharing and knowledge management amongst research practitioners, academics and policymakers throughout the world.
• The Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) is a global network of organizations and individuals working to improve global coordination on land reform, develop pro-poor land management as well as land tenure tools, and improve the general dissemination of knowledge about hot to implement seciruty of tenure. The network was initiated by UN-HABITAT, the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida), the Norweigian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the World Bank.
• Hague Rule of Law Network (HRoLN) is a global forum where leading academics and key-practitioners on rule of law meet, network and freely exchange information, views, experiences and best practices.
• Human-Rights Policy Network (HURITALK) is a knowledge network of the United Nations Development Group where members discuss, access information, share tools and build knowledge on emerging issues and on the best strategies to incorporate human rights aspects into all aspects of UN’s work. HURITALK connects UN staff as well as select non-UN participants such as representatives of governments, civil society groups and academia. To request membership, please send an email.
• International Network to Promote the Rule of Law (INPROL) assists international rule of law specialists in their efforts to prevent conflict and stabilize war-torn societies, by enabling exchange of information between experienced practitioners as well as access to relevant documents, best practices, and related materials.
• International Industrial Relations Association (IIRA) is an association of academics and practitioners who develop and exchange knowledge in the field of industrial relations at the international level on issues such as labour law, international labour standards and social dialogue.
• International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) has a Community of Practice, to which SSR practitioners can sign up. A practitioner forum, directory of organizations and practitioners, and lessons identified feature are available to members in addition to publicly available features.
• International Society of Labour and Social Security Law (ISLLSS) is an international association of academics and practitioners who study and exchange ideas and information on labour and social security law at the international and national level.
• United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network (PNI) is a network of institutes which assists the international community in strengthening international cooperation in crime prevention and criminal by providing a variety of services, including exchange of information, research, training and specialized education.
• UN Peacebuilding Community of Practice (PB-CoP) unites peacebuilding practitioners across the UN system, facilitating electronic discussions, real-time responses to technical queries on peacebuilding related challenges launched by field-based practitioners, access to a shared online workspace housing key resources, monthly newsletters and face to face workshops. To subscribe to the PB-CoP, please send an email with “subscribe” in the subject line and your name, position, organization, duty station, and UN email address in the message body.
• UN Rule of Law Network run by Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) is an internet-based platform to support and facilitate field and Headquarters staff in interacting with colleagues worldwide, accessing and exchanging documents, best practices and information on major events, workshops, training and job opportunities. To register, please send an email. 
• The World Justice Project engages leaders in countries across the globe and from all professional disciplines to advance the rule of law. Through its three complementary programs: Research and Scholarship; the Rule of Law Index; and Mainstreaming the rule of law, including the convening of the World Justice Forum, the World Justice Project’s efforts are dedicated to stimulating government reforms, developing practical programs at the community level, and increasing public awareness about the importance of the rule of law.