The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) kicks-off its annual Innovating Justice Challenge next month and is inviting start-ups with justice-focused digital solutions to submit applications for the Challenge.
HiiL, a Netherlands-based NGO, uses data and technology to work towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 16 of peace, justice and strong institutions by making high-quality law services accessible to all. It was established in 2005 and offers other services such as the Justice Needs and Satisfaction Survey conducted in more than 18 countries, measuring citizens’ satisfaction with their respective justice systems.
Collaborating to make justice accessible
The Innovating Justice Challenge 2020 is a four-month long programme offering justice start-ups coaching, mentoring, peer learning and training. It also offers €10 000 non-equity funding and access to its network of legal tech investors, academics and organisations.
The programme also promises international exposure throrugh its annual Innovating Justice Forum that brings together justice entrepreneurs and other legal stakeholders to explore innovation and public-private partnerships to make justice accessible.
Following the applications deadline on 5 August, 30 teams will be chosen to join a week-long bootcamp and a pitch event. HiiL will then select between three and five teams to progress to the Justice Accelerator programme.
Themba Mahleka, HiiL Southern Africa’s Justice Accelerator head, says that while the Challenge’s focus this year will be on COVID-19 related justice problems, HiiL is also looking for solutions in the traditional problem-areas: crime, family law and land, employment and neighbour disputes.
“We’re not excluding apps outside this ambit. For example, solutions can use fintech to help where fraud is involved.”
The Innovation Justice Challenge was launched in Johannesburg four years ago. Start-ups that have previously passed through this hub include rAInbow, a chatbot designed to support those dealing with domestic violence, and Creative Contracts, ‘the world’s first comic contract’, using a comic book format to simplify legally binding agreements.
"We’re looking for entities that already show measurable impact and the potential to become financially sustainable," adds Mahlekas. "We’ll be looking at the team and its founders to see what they’re capable of; they need to have the drive to scale across different markets."
Southern Africa’s selected startups would normally be flown to Johannesburg for the Challenge, but this year Mahleka says it’s likely to be held remotely.
At the end of the accelerator, startups from Africa, the Middle East and the Ukraine will pitch their solutions to a panel at the Innovating Justice Forum. The top three will be awarded €20 000 (1st), €10 000 (2nd) and €5 000 (3rd).
The final event has been traditionally hosted at the Peace Palace in The Hague. But Mahleka says it’s still difficult to confirm whether the next Forum (in February 2021) will be held in physically or virtually.
The deadline for the Innovating Justice Challenge submissions is 5 August.
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