[2] It was founded by Vivek Maru and Simeon Koroma, as a joint-project between the Open Society Justice Initiative (part of George Soros's Open Society Institute) and the National Forum for Human Rights, a Sierra Leonian coalition of human rights organizations.
As described by the Law Society of England and Wales As previously stated there is a shortage of lawyers within the country especially in rural areas hence the recruitment of paralegals.
Paralegals in addition to convening mediations, interview witnesses, and individuals against whom complaints are lodged; meet with government and court officials; monitor the progress of cases or investigations; convene community meetings or workshops to address recurring problems; communicate with village, paramount or section chiefs to co-ordinate activities on local concerns and maintain good relations.
[6] In an article he published in the Harvard International Review, President Carter pointed out that "Timap is widely accepted, but remains an independent organization" and "they are not intended to replace existing justice mechanisms, but they can provide alternatives where people’s trust in local justice—formal or traditional—is low and can set a competitive example by operating in professional and transparent ways that invite comparison and improve overall performance".
[6] Transparency International also highlighted Timap's work, describing how an organization "with no statutory authority", with knowledge of the local context and culture, is able to exert enough pressure on people to follow the law.