19 Oct 2009: ISS Workshop, Civil Society Engagement in Security Sector Reform processes on the African Continent

By invitation only: Workshop on “Civil Society Engagement in Security Sector Reform processes on the African Continent”

19th and 20th of October

 

“The intrinsic worth of civil society participation in SSR is echoed throughout much of the literature that deals with this topic.  The OECD – DAC Handbook on SSR, for example, notes that “The involvement of civil society in SSR programmes is a precondition for wider and more inclusive local ownership and, ultimately sustainability. Civil society organisations have an important role to play owing to their potential for giving voice to the interests and concerns of the wider population and encouraging reforms that respond to popular security and justice needs.”



Beyond democratising and localising/nationalising the SSR process, civil society’s role is identified as  among other:

  1.  They can bring added capacity to the often weak states emerging from conflict.

  2. It is civil society that provides a source of security for citizens during conflict and they then can bring these experiences to bear in the post-conflict situation.

  3. They can facilitate discussion and public education on security issues

  4. They can assist with rebuilding trust between government and the citizens

  5. They can provide technical and policy advice

  6. They can channel the interests of the various constituencies, especially that of women

  7. They can perform the role of public oversight

But, what role has civil society actually played in the SSR programmes that have transpired on the continent? What are their strengths, challenges and limitations in this regard? What is the relationship between domestic and international NGO’s in this process and where are the points of tension?


Through the presentation of case studies on Burundi, Liberia, DRC, Mozambique, Sudan and the Central African Republic, we can begin to discern the different and conflictual roles of actors, their inputs, limitations and requirements, thus enhancing the debate on local ownership and sustainability of SSR. It is also civil society that needs to be at the forefront of articulating their interests, capacities and concerns with SSR processes. The presenters are therefore largely drawn from civil society itself.



The aims of this workshop are:

  • Create a platform where civil society representatives, researchers and policy-makers can engage in a dialogue on how to enhance the role of civil society in SSR;

  • Understand the different roles that civil society has, and currently plays, in relation to security sector reform in Africa;

  • Identification of the stumbling blocks and the tools required to enhance participation;

  • Identification of key recommendations for future SSR programming in Africa;

  • Increase knowledge production and dissemination on democratic governance of the security sector and sustainable post-conflict reconstruction.

Venue: Kievitskroon Country Estate in Pretoria

 

For more information contact: Marelie Maritz [email protected] and Dr Cheryl Hendricks [email protected]