MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between The International Bar Association (IBA) and The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 1. Introduction This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is between the International Bar Association (the “IBA”) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (the “IBRD”) (each the IBA and the IBRD, a “Participant” and, jointly, the “Participants”). WHEREAS, the IBA is the world’s leading organization for international legal practitioners, bar associations, and law societies. Established in 1947, the IBA’s mission is to contribute to global stability and peace through the administration of justice and to influence the development of international law reform. It achieves these objectives by fostering global legal cooperation, providing training and resources, and advocating for the rule of law. This is done through collaborations with leading international organizations and the drafting of a wide range of reports and papers on key issues. The 2024 Report on the social and economic impact of the legal profession, which reaches as one of its main conclusions the need of improving access to legal representation/access to justice, is just one recent example of the many projects and initiatives in which the IBA has been involved. The IBA has an interest in collaborating with organizations to promote legal frameworks that ensure equitable access to justice and uphold human rights standards. WHEREAS, the IBRD is an international development institution established by articles of agreement adopted by its member countries. IBRD’s mission is to eliminate poverty on a livable planet, including by providing loans, concessional financing, technical assistance, and creating and disseminating knowledge to inform policy dialogue, law reforms and capacity-building in member countries. IBRD has an interest in collaborating with public and private organizations to advance knowledge creation and dissemination and law reform, access to justice, and the establishment of effective legal frameworks in its member countries. THEREFORE, the Participants enter into this MOU to describe their mutual intention to collaborate and cooperate on the common objectives described below. 2. Overall Objectives The Participants desire to collaborate and cooperate in the promotion of legal aid for women, specifically in the areas of: (i) assessing the gender-responsive legal aid systems; (ii) promoting understanding and awareness of legal frameworks that protect and empower women; and (iii) strengthening the capacity of legal institutions to provide effective and accessible legal services to women, particularly those in vulnerable situations. This MOU provides a framework within which the Participants may develop and undertake collaborative activities and is not intended to interfere with the Participants’ independent decision- making with regards to their own respective administration and operations. 3. Activities and Areas of Collaboration The Participants plan and anticipate carrying out the following activities: a. Collaborate on conducting assessments of legal aid services provided to women in selected countries, including by facilitating outreach and access to the relevant networks in target countries. b. Share knowledge, ideas, and lessons learned on access to justice and legal aid, particularly in relation to gender-responsive legal frameworks and best practices for delivering legal services to women, including to review preliminary results of research conducted as a result of the assessments. c. Plan joint activities in areas of common interest to strengthen the capacity of legal aid providers and dissemination of deliverables. d. Explore the potential promotion, preparation, and organization of regional conferences to facilitate dialogue and enhance legal aid systems, with a focus on improving access for women, as well as expanding the reach of the assessments. e. Jointly explore external and internal funding opportunities to support the assessment of legal aid for women in targeted countries. f. Engage in dialogue with stakeholders and other interested parties to advance the activities outlined under this Memorandum. g. Identify opportunities to work with other entities engaged in similar, related, or complementary initiatives to strengthen legal frameworks and ensure equitable access to justice, including through making the assessments more accessible to end-users. h. Periodically assess the effectiveness of the collaboration, considering the Participants’ respective mandates, priorities, and operational contexts. 4. Intellectual Property The Participants acknowledge that nothing in this MOU is intended to grant either Participant the right to use intellectual property owned or controlled by the other Participant. Any use of intellectual property, including reports, training materials, or frameworks developed jointly under this MOU, will be subject to a separate written agreement between the Participants. The Participants further acknowledge that neither Participant may use the name, mark, logo, or any variation thereof, of the other Participant without the prior written approval of the relevant Participant. 5. Publicity and Confidentiality 2 This MOU may be publicly disclosed by the Participants. Such disclosure will be made subject to the Participants’ respective disclosure or access to information policies. Any information shared between the Participants under this MOU that is designated as “CONFIDENTIAL” may require a separate binding non-disclosure agreement to be entered into between the Participants. 6. Conflicts of Interest The collaboration of the Participants under this MOU is not intended to confer a special advantage or preference to the IBA in competing with any other entities as regards the procurement of goods, works, or services by IBRD or third parties, where such procurement results from or has a direct relationship to the activities outlined in this MOU. The IBA acknowledges the receipt of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for Borrowers under Investment Project Financing, which set forth the Bank’s rules on conflicts of interest and unfair competitive advantage in relation to contracts under investment project financing. 7. Disclaimers a. Nothing in this MOU is intended to be construed as creating a joint venture, an agency relationship, or a legal partnership between the Participants. b. Nothing in this MOU is intended to constitute an agreement or commitment by any Participant to enter into or provide support for any specific activity or project. c. Nothing in this MOU is intended to constitute commitment with regards to the financing of any specific activity or project. d. Each Participant is responsible for its respective costs and expenses that may be incurred in connection with the activities described in this MOU. e. Nothing in this MOU restricts a Participant from entering similar arrangements with third parties covering the same or similar subject matter areas or activities. f. Nothing herein is intended to prevent the Participants from entering into separate and legally binding agreements related to the areas of collaboration described in this MOU, or otherwise, provided, however, that any such separate and legally binding agreements are discussed and executed separately from this MOU and be subject to the specific terms and conditions set forth therein. 8. Privileges and Immunities Nothing in this MOU is intended to be a waiver of the privileges and immunities of any of the Participants or their officers and employees, as applicable, which privileges and immunities are hereby specifically reserved. 9. Disagreements The Participants acknowledge their intent to resolve any disagreements arising out of this MOU amicably. 3 10. Term and Termination The Participants intend to cooperate as set out in this MOU for an initial period of two (2) years. The Participants endeavor, if they wish to no longer collaborate as set out in this MOU, to end their collaboration under this MOU by: (1) mutual written declaration of the Participants; or (2) a unilateral statement in writing by any Participant sent at least thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the intended end of their engagement to the other Participant. 11. Notices, Communications, and Amendments The Participants intend to make notices, communication, and amendments related to this MOU in writing (wet ink or electronic mail). 12. Public announcement of the signing of this MOU The Participants may make a public announcement of their entering into this MOU, in which case the press release to be issued and any other related action, will be mutually agreed. 13. Official Representatives and Addresses Unless notified otherwise, each Participant designates below its representative with overall responsibility for all activities and communication in connection with this MOU. For the IBA: Jaime Carey IBA President E-mail: Jacarey@carey.cl For IBRD Francesca Daverio Head of Office, Legal Vice Presidency IBRD E-mail: fdaverio@worldbank.org 14. Miscellaneous This MOU is only intended to set out a summary of the understandings between the Participants. Nothing expressed or implied herein (whether by operation of law or otherwise) is intended to legally commit or oblige any Participant to perform or observe any of the provisions herein, and this MOU is not intended to create any binding and enforceable obligations nor any rights to the Participants. 4 International Bank for Reconstruction and International Bar Association Development By: _________________________ By: _________________________ Christopher Stephens Jaime Carey Name: _________________________ Name: _________________________ 21-Mar-2025 31-Mar-2025 Date: _________________________ Date: _________________________ 5