Since 1992 the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation IRZ has supported, on behalf of the Federal Government, more than 30 partner states in the reformation process of their legal system and their administration of justice. Whereas during the first years after its establishment, the foundation mainly worked with the Federal Government’s consultancy program TRANSFORM, it is predominantly funded nowadays by the Federal Ministry of Justice. Moreover, it receives project funds from the Foreign Office, from the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD and runs a number of EU-twinning and other EU-financed programs.
IRZ promotes the implementation of reform laws in partner states especially by providing training and post-graduate training for jurists in all functions, of scientists and junior jurists, e.g. in seminars and symposiums on site as well as through work stays, internships and visits. Special emphasis is placed on German and European law as well as on a cross-border comparative law analysis and exchange of experience. While IRZ, in the first years after taking up its work, concentrated on the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the new independent states of the former Soviet Union and the partner countries of the stability pact for Southeast Europe, it nowadays also works with new partner states in Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East.