On 18 February, the World Bank (WB) announced its plans to extend the closing date of Judicial Services and Smart Infrastructure Project in Azerbaijan until 2021, reported report.az. 

“The parent project's closing date will be extended from 30 June 2020 to 30 June 2021, to allow for full utilization of the remaining funds and operationalization of the court complex in Sumgayit and the Data Centers,” read the statement.  Azerbaijan will receive $100 million in a loan through the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD - a WB subsidiary) for the implementation of the project, which is estimated at $ 200 million.

The development objective of the Judicial Services and Smart Infrastructure Project for Azerbaijan is to improve the access, transparency, and efficiency of the delivery of selected justice services. The project is comprised of four main components. The first component, judicial service delivery improvements, will finance two sub-components: access to justice and the expansion of e-Justice services. The second component; strengthening institutional capacity, efficiency, and monitoring and evaluation, will finance technical assistance, training, and advisory services to improve the capability of key justice entities to make informed policy decisions and implement reforms. The third component; expansion, and modernization of justice infrastructure will finance the construction and rehabilitation of about six courthouses and court complexes at locations selected under criteria outlined in the operational manual, through the carrying out of works and the provision of goods, consultants' services, and training. The fourth component; project management, and coordination will strengthen the capacity of the judiciary in project management, monitoring, and coordination. 

Beside the judicial service programme, the World Bank has 5 more ongoing projects in the country, namely: 1) the additional financing to internally displaced persons living standards and livelihoods, 2) Azerbaijan Highway 3 additional financing, 3) the second national water supply and sanitation project, 4) the second rural investment project additional financing and 5) the  National Strategy for the Development of Statistics for 2018-2030, Including Detailed Institution, Human and Information and Communication Technology Capacity Building Plans for 2018-2022.