MSI's work in Paraguay from 2000 to 2006 began by supporting the role of investigative journalists as public watchdogs of the judicial system. The project evolved, with MSI experts working directly with Paraguayan Government and civil society counterparts to design and implement sustainable judicial reform initiatives. 

One of the primary results of MSI’s work was the new Paraguayan Judicial Ethics System, presently considered a model for Latin America because it is the only system completely developed with the necessary administrative support and oversight implementation bodies. The Judicial Code of Ethics produced by the project was hailed as the most advanced in Ibero-America.  MSI also provided technical assistance in drafting modifications to the Penal Code and reforming the Procedural Penal Code and the Penitentiary System.

For another component of the project, MSI provided technical support to strengthen the transparency and accountability of the judicial selection process by implementing an electronic registry, producing an analysis of the Council of Magistrates, developing a Manual for the judicial selection process, and a conducting a diagnosis of the Judicial School.

Finally, the project greatly improved efficiency in the fight against corruption and economic crime by strengthening coordination between the Economic Crimes Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office and the Controller’s Office.  As a result of our support, there is now an increased number of cases forwarded to the Economic Crimes Unit from the Controller’s Office and then prepared for prosecution by the ECU.

USAID’s final evaluation of the MSI project was outstanding: MSI was credited with demonstrating performance far beyond the requirements of the task order.

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