The Oxford Policy Fellowship (OPF) is a unique development programme. We see the rule of law as being central to achieving sustainable development. We respond to demand from low- and middle-income country (LMIC) governments for legal expertise by providing them with lawyers who work for two years as local civil servants.

The lawyers, known as Fellows, work alongside their ministry colleagues to strengthen government’s legal and public policy capacity as well as supporting processes that improve the rule of law. This improved capacity helps LMIC governments to negotiate, for example, better terms with aid agencies for loan agreements, domesticate international conventions, and strengthen national policies and legislative frameworks. Strengthening governments’ legal capacity is a fundamental step in achieving sustainable development.

The Rule of Law is important to laying the foundations for good governance and sustainable development. Through access to justice, law and legal professionals become facilitators of solutions which give a voice to the voiceless, challenge discrimination, and hold decisionmakers accountable. The World Bank supports the important role legal professionals and local civil servants play across the world to deliver on our area of priority. We rely on contributors such as Oxford Policy Fellowship in helping us deliver on our promise to end poverty and promote shared prosperity for all. Sandie Okoro, World Bank Senior Vice President and Group General Counsel