The publication provides an overview of the progress that has been made towards improving access to legal aid services in criminal justice systems in Africa in order to assist policymakers, practitioners and all stakeholders (considered to include development partners, Governments, bar associations, NGOs and grassroots action groups) actively involved in criminal justice reform in three ways: by providing the general information needed for developing national legal aid service delivery strategies, by offering alternatives to conventional models of legal aid delivery and by outlining promising practices on the continent, some particularly suitable for post-conflict societies.