The Commission's Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development (DG DEVCO) entrusted ISSAT to conduct a sectoral analysis in three Sahel countries (Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso). ISSAT carried out assessments, elaborated practical tools and developed recommendations related to Security and Justice Sector Reform. Those activities aimed at providing guidance to and fostering the coherence of existing and future projects supported by the European Emergency Trust Fund for Africa(Lake Chad/Sahel Window).
The project’s methodology aimed at designing a shared reference base, which seeked to identify fundamental elements for ensuring the optimal functioning of a security system. On this basis, an evaluation grid was developed and used in field missions in order to assess institutional needs in the security sector. The population’s needs were equally taken into account through perception surveys. An assessment of institutional cooperation in the field of security for each country, on a regional scale and with international partners, was conducted. The outcome of those various steps allowed for the formulation of operational guidance to the European Trust Fund, enhancing consistency and improving the effectiveness of its projects in the Sahel.
The methodological work started on this mandate begining of september 2017. ISSAT brought together a panel of experts including the respresentatives of the consortium formed for this programme (Clingendael, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Civipol Agency, Justice Coopération Internationale and the Belgian Development Agency).
Working sessions were organised including ISSAT experts, the consortium representatives and four regional experts from Senegal, Burkina Faso and Togo who brought with them a strong expertise in justice, governance, internal security and defence sectors. This process lead to the development of the « shared reference base ».
The « shared reference base » is a methodological framework with indicative benchmarks defining a set of basic elements necessary for the functioning of the security and justice sectors. It presents those bechmarks on the technical and conceptual levels. On the basis of this reference base, analytical tools were developped for the mandate field teams to use during their assessment of the relevant services in the target countries.
To access the innovative “Socle de Référence” underpinning this mandate, please click here.