How can the gap between policy and practice on Security Sector Reform (SSR) be closed? This handbook from the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD-DAC) provides guidance on how to operationalise its guidelines on SSR. Addressing the challenges faced by all citizens to achieve personal safety, security and access to justice should be the key determining factor in evaluating the success or otherwise of donor support programmes.
This handbook is the main outcome of the 2-years Implementation Framework for Security System Reform (IF-SSR) process. It has been designed by and for international actors working to address insecurity and support access to justice. It aims to ensure that donor support to SSR programmes is both effective and sustainable. It advocates an approach whereby the desired outcome and the context determine the priority, nature and scope of the programme.
The political terrain needs to be prepared in partner countries and early investments made in appropriate analysis. Generating public interest, understanding and engagement in SSR is critical.
- Experience shows the benefit of establishing an inception phase to an SSR programme – it allows donors to build understanding of the context, to effectively target support, and to assess where donor support adds value.
- The process of identifying and fostering ownership requires continuous attention. It cannot be assumed that ownership will be easily identifiable or coherent at the point where international actors engage.
- SSR programmes need to take a multi-layered or multi-stakeholder approach.
- SSR objectives need to focus on the ultimate outcomes of basic security and justice services.
- The international community needs to move from ad hoc, often short-term, projects to more strategic engagement.
Donors should aim to improve basic security and justice service delivery, establish an effective governance, oversight and accountability system, and develop local leadership and ownership of the reform process.
- Technical inputs to SSR should be delivered and co-ordinated with a clear understanding of the political nature of SSR and institutional opportunities and constraints.
- Assessment tools should inform the design of realistic, focussed programmes, which can make significant contributions to supporting partner countries in addressing the security and justice needs of all citizens.
- Donors must work with partners to ensure that initiatives to support the delivery of security and justice are conflict-sensitive and financially, institutionally and culturally sustainable.
- The international community should use appropriate instruments and approaches for different contexts and should build support across the justice and security system to ensure a more strategic approach to SSR.
- SSR should be viewed as an integral part of the planning process for immediate post-conflict situations and peace support operations.
- The The OECD DAC Handbook on SSR can be used to help place sub-sector reforms in the context of system-wide needs.
