What is the impact of aid on conflict prevention and security? What role do donor agencies play in conflict situations? This study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests that security issues can distort the allocation of state resources and that donors may compound security problems.
Over the last five years the traditional concept of security issues as fundamentally military has shifted to a new conceptualisation that includes the security and well being of people within a country, and the strength and peace provided by predictable patterns of sustainable development. Development co-operation can play an important role in supporting countries seeking to manage security issues by reforming governance systems (including judicial and penal systems and the security forces) so that mechanisms are identified for establishing country-specific coherent approaches. These approaches would ensure that different actors’ separate actions are constructive and contribute towards shared goals.
Security system reform is an integral component of good governance and a key to poverty reduction and conflict prevention. It is clear that efforts to enhance security and development are mutually reinforcing.
- A more efficient approach to security expenditures will help states optimise their allocations of resources in national development goals.
- Security problems are systemic and have interlinked national, regional and international dimensions. There is a need for a multi-dimensional, multi-level approach to address the factors that sustain security-related problems.
- Security systems should be reformed in a manner that conforms to democratic norms and sound principles of governance. Therefore, changes are needed in national legislation, civilian institutions and prevailing social values.
- Defining the legitimate parameters of development assistance in the security sector will help donors address political sensitivities and work more effectively with other departments in their own governments.
- Security-related assistance should harness the vision, skills and capabilities of local actors. Over reliance on external vision, expertise and resources, will have negative implications for the sustainability of reform processes.
Development actors need to create a strategic vision about where they fit within their own government’s approach. This vision also needs to fit into the broader international approach required to address security system problems. To work effectively, they must address issues on building the capacity they need. These include:
- Recognising the developmental importance and legitimacy of security system reform and the need for more coherent and comprehensive international responses to security problems.
- Elaborating a security reform policy so that approaches are coherent and clearly outline the appropriate roles for external and internal actors across all government departments.
- Working to develop an effective ‘division of labour’ among development and other international actors that will allow each to pursue its comparative advantage without undermining common objectives.
- Identifying the capacity and internal institutional reforms needed to provide effective security assistance on a partnership basis, within the context of a development co-operation agenda.
- Working towards the integration of security concerns in the foreign policies of and greater co-operation among OECD countries.
- Providing assistance that enhances domestic ownership of reform processes and strengthens the institutional framework for managing security systems that are consistent with sound governance practices.
