2003 - usaid/ofda

The reason for the observed increase in the time consumed by the sewice process \\as that the existing l31x
that requires notice to be sewed by process servers fmm the coun has not yet been repealed in spite of the
introduction ofregistered mail notification. This has led to a duplcaion ofeffon and h u actually increased
processing time since two parallcl procedures now take place within the service functton. This increase in
processing corroborates the lower satisfaction ntinp given by layers for this service in the Project's annual
satisfaction survey.
The Project has continued to recommend that this duplication be removed so that registered mail
notification be deemed legally sumcient in serving litigants with notices. In addition. the NCC ChiefJuslicc
and coun management have focused on monitoring and disciplining the Service Depanmcnt in order to
expedite the service function. This pressure resulted in the decrcse observed in 2003. with the average
number of days laken up by the service process going back do\m to 19.;. Even though this arcnge falls
shon of meeting the targeted I5 days for the end of the project. it represents a decreasing txnd that should
continue in the future. especially if the duplication between process servers and qistered mail IS
eliminated.
Unit of hlcrsure 3: Days consumed in espen process front referral to final expcn opinlon
Baseline lor 1998 (NB): 660 days
I Number planned for 2003: 350 days I IYuntbcrxhievcd in 2003: 447 days I
Discussion or result: Although slight decreases in days consumed by the cspen process were obxwcd
over the life of the Project (from 660 da)s in 1999 to 456 days in 1001. representing an overall decreue of
31%). the number achieved in 1001 (average 500 days) a~ain marked an incrcasins trend in compxison
with previous years.
The increase in time consumcd by expens in issuin; thcir repons for cases referred to then, by the cowl is
again attributed to the fact that the courts are now focusing on older cases. the majoriry of xhhich are also
cases referred to cxpens. Older cases are inherently more complicated. and therefore require more tlmc Tor
the expens to form a final opinion and issue a repon. This Ircnd. however. marks a vev positwe
phenomenon which the Project has been encouraging and anticipain: in order for the courts to clex thcir
backlog of older cases.
During the final year of Project activity. the avenge number of days consumed in the espcn pmas
decreased to 447. Even though this falls shon of mectin: the targeted avenge of350 days by the end ofthc
Project, it marks a positive decreasing trend. The avcrazc achiewd by the end ofthc Project also constilutrs
a significant decrease in comparison \rith the baseline as measured in 1998. with this decrease rexhing
22.3%.
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