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Key Text Global Conflict Prevention Pools, Security Sector Reform Strategy 2004-2005

Author: DFID and FCO
Date: 2005
Size: (279 KB)

Summary

Security sector reform (SSR) is fundamental to the promotion of peace, stability and sustainable development. This document outlines the joint SSR strategy of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The prevention of violent conflict and the promotion of peace in fragile countries require a coherent response across the UK government. A joint SSR strategy helps to achieve such coherence and to refine the UK’s overarching policies and objectives on security-related issues in developing countries.

The UK government has pioneered work on SSR in the belief that security helps to create the necessary conditions for development. If such security is lacking, efforts to reduce poverty are unlikely to have any real or sustained impact. Democratically run, accountable and competent security sectors help to reduce conflict, enhance the security of citizens, and in the process help to create the necessary conditions for development.

This cross-departmental SSR strategy aims to support the governments of developing and transitional countries to fulfill their legitimate security functions. This can be achieved through reforms that will make the delivery of security more effective and democratic, thereby reducing the potential for both internal and external conflict. The joint SSR strategy has made tangible progress in the following areas by:

Influencing international conflict prevention policy and providing support for UK SSR activities, for example, in Iraq, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and Uganda.
Providing crucial thematic support and guidance to geographical strategies under the UK Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) and the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool (ACPP).
Establishing a multi-disciplined Defence Advisory Team, which provides expertise to the UK conflict pools for the implementation SSR programmes and a Global Facilitation Network, which acts as an intellectual engine to support future thinking, networking and capacity building.
Developing a well-structured management process for enhancing strategic thinking and policy development through regular meetings of the inter-departmental Steering Group and Policy Committee. Further investment is needed in human and financial resources to achieve its full potential.
Undertaking practical SSR activities. The Defence Advisory Team has been involved in over twenty-five country programmes including the Ugandan Strategic Defence Review and the drafting of a national security policy in Afghanistan.
Building capacity and promoting defence education. The Global Facilitation Network has developed capacity building networks and has pioneered work in distance learning on security issues.

A properly managed security sector helps to promote sustainable development by strengthening accountability in institutions, promoting investor confidence and encouraging the more efficient use of resources. The UK government should concentrate on four key areas to ensure that its work in the area of security sector reform remains at the cutting edge. This includes:

Analysis and research: SSR policy responses need to take into account the most recent analysis, research and lessons learned from the field to better inform decision making. Proper analysis should be undertaken prior to engagement in SSR activities in developing countries.
Institutional reform: the UK government needs to provide increased support for institutional reform to improve the accountability and effectiveness of security sector actors.
Capacity building: engage in more innovative capacity building at all levels of the SSR chain. Greater local capacity to affect and shape SSR policies will lead to a more accountable and effective security sector and increase knowledge and expertise within the development community on SSR issues.
Mainstreaming and information exchange: UK initiatives should aim to raise the profile of SSR within the international community, identify opportunities for enhanced dialogue and promote a common approach among key bilateral and multilateral partners.

Source: Department for International Development, Ministry of Defence and Foreign Commonwealth Office, undated, ‘GCPP SSR Strategy 2004-2005’, DFID, Ministry of Defence and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London