Institutional leadership serving justice and the rule of law in Africa.
JIA-CERJA is led by senior justice and governance professionals who oversee program direction, administrative coordination, and financial management.
President & Senior Strategic Advisor
Dr. François K. Sobo
“Justice is the foundation of every credible institution. Strengthening it in Africa is a long-term institutional commitment - strategic, contextual and deeply human.”
- Dr. François K. Sobo
A senior expert in judicial reform and rule of law in Africa.
Dr. François K. Sobo brings more than two decades of expertise in judicial reform, rule of law, criminal justice and human rights, with sustained engagement in African field contexts and within international institutions, including the United Nations.
His vision for JIA-CERJA is to provide African states and institutional partners with a credible, multidisciplinary and field-anchored platform for judicial reform - connecting strategic advisory, applied research and capacity building.
Academic background and areas of specialization
- -Doctorate in private law and criminal sciences
- -Former law teacher-researcher
- -Specialization in criminal justice (national and international)
- -Combating impunity and transitional justice
- -Access to justice and human rights
- -Support to penitentiary administration
- -Continuous engagement with international organizations working in rule-of-law support and institutional capacity building
International experience
- -Senior advisory roles with international organizations, including United Nations missions
- -Engagement with regional and international bodies working in rule-of-law support, combating impunity, and protecting human rights
Field missions
- -Strategic missions in the Great Lakes Region, West and Central Africa
- -Coordinator of multinational cooperation programs supporting the justice sector
- -Research and interventions in fragile and post-conflict contexts
Co-Founder & Program Director
Dr. Armand Koussougbo
“A modern, effective, and accessible justice system is the vital foundation for investment security, good governance, and economic growth on the African continent.”
Dr. Armand Koussougbo - Co-Founder and Program Director of JIA-CERJA
Expert in business law, corporate governance, and legal security for investments.
Dr. Armand Koussougbo is an Attorney-at-Law and academic with over fifteen years of experience in higher education, legal research, and corporate consulting in France. His dual academic and practical background enables him to master contemporary legal challenges from both a doctrinal standpoint and operational execution.
At JIA-CERJA, he channels this dual expertise into economic governance, the promotion of institutional reforms, and the strengthening of legal frameworks essential for economic growth, market attractiveness, and sustainable development across the African continent.
Academic background
- -Ph.D. in Private Law and Criminal Sciences (University of Poitiers, Summa Cum Laude)
- -Certificate of Qualification for the Profession of Lawyer (CAPA), admitted to the Angers Bar since 2016
- -Former Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Universities of Poitiers, Orléans, Le Mans, and Paris-Nanterre
Professional experience
- -Business Law Attorney at ORATIO Avocats since 2016
- -Advising corporations on governance, mergers & acquisitions, and corporate restructuring
- -Author of several specialized publications in insurance law and business law
Engagements & Reforms
- -Strategic oversight of JIA-CERJA’s economic governance programs
- -Promotion of legal reforms enhancing economic attractiveness in Africa
- -Capacity building for public and private actors on investment security
- -Contribution to doctrinal reflection on the evolution of economic regulation mechanisms
Areas of specialization
- -Business, corporate, and commercial law
- -Corporate governance and legal risk management
- -Insurance law and business litigation
- -Mergers & acquisitions and corporate restructuring
- -Legal security for investments
- -Modernization of legal frameworks and economic regulation
The institutional governance of JIA-CERJA.
A board of directors oversees institutional governance, administrative coordination, and financial management at JIA-CERJA.
It is distinct from the Operations Director, the technical committees and the senior expert pool mobilized on field missions and research programmes as needed.
Operations Director.
The Operations Director translates the Board's strategic orientations into operational plans, and ensures the planning, coordination, implementation and monitoring of JIA-CERJA programmes, projects, studies and expert missions.
The technical committees of JIA-CERJA.
JIA-CERJA's technical committees mobilize multidisciplinary expertise to inform judicial and institutional reforms in Africa. Placed under the Board of Directors' guidance, they contribute to needs analysis, project design, knowledge production and the quality of interventions.
Their work covers seven priority domains, complemented by one transversal committee on communications and digital development and two specialized committees (Military justice and combating impunity — Child protection and juvenile justice).
Functioning and mobilization of expertise.
JIA-CERJA organizes its expertise around ten technical committees under the authority of the Board of Directors. These committees mobilize multidisciplinary skills to inform and support judicial and institutional reforms in Africa, particularly in fragile or post-conflict States.
They contribute to needs analysis, project design, knowledge production, strategic foresight and quality assurance. They formulate opinions and recommendations and provide technical support to studies, training, programmes and partnerships.
Each committee is placed under the responsibility of a coordinator. Unless expressly authorized in writing by the Board, committees cannot legally or financially bind JIA-CERJA.
Seven domain committees.
Criminal justice chain reform
Support the modernization of criminal justice and penitentiary administration, improve judicial coordination and promote alternatives to imprisonment as well as social reintegration.
Rule of law and governance
Contribute to judicial independence, institutional integrity, prevention of corruption and the strengthening of transparency and accountability of institutions.
Access to justice
Foster effective access to rights, legal aid and proximity justice, with particular attention to vulnerable persons, victims and witnesses.
Transitional justice and peaceful conflict resolution
Support processes of truth, accountability, reconciliation, reparation and memorialization, as well as mediation and dialogue in transition or post-conflict contexts.
Institutional capacity building
Assess institutional needs and contribute to training, mentoring, practical tools and the modernization of systems and infrastructure.
OHADA law and economic & commercial justice
Support the application of OHADA law, legal security for business and the strengthening of commercial courts, while also fostering arbitration and mediation.
Research, studies, diagnostics, evaluation and quality assurance
Produce and mobilize reliable knowledge, carry out diagnostics and contribute to programme evaluation, work quality and institutional learning.
One transversal committee.
Institutional communications, digital development and visibility
Contribute to communications strategy, knowledge dissemination, website and digital platforms development, and content accessibility, while ensuring message consistency.
Two specialized committees.
Military justice and combating impunity
Provide expertise on military justice and responses to serious human rights violations, respecting fundamental rights, fair trial and the protection of victims and witnesses.
Child protection and juvenile justice
Promote child protection and justice adapted to children's needs, supporting prevention of violence, alternatives to detention, psychosocial support and reintegration.
Coordinators of the technical committees.
Each published coordinator facilitates the committee's work, organizes its activities and transmits opinions, recommendations and technical notes in accordance with JIA-CERJA procedures.
Continue exploring JIA-CERJA.
- Our Expertise
Ten intervention areas - from judicial reform to research.
- Programs · Research · News
Field interventions, publications and institutional updates.
- Partners
Institutional partners and collaboration areas.
- About JIA-CERJA
Identity, mission, vision, values and approach.
- Support Us
Strategic support and partnership pathways.
- Contact
Open a strategic dialogue or partnership request.
Senior practitioner, researcher or expert in justice and governance?
We welcome professionals with field experience and academic credibility willing to contribute to JIA-CERJA missions and research programs across Africa.