Support to identification of best practices in developing systems for human resources management and career paths for CSDP missions
We were requested to support overall improvements in the EU’s deployment of civilian experts, with a particular emphasis on deployment of independent contractors, by analysing the current Irish approach to make seconded experts effective, along with the support provided to the development of a better career paths for international deployment, and building from this analysis to influence and improve overall EUMS approaches to selecting, training, managing and deploying effective civilian advisors.
Course on Security and Justice Governance and Reform
The Irish Ministry of Defence will organise a five-day course on “Security and Justice Governance and Reform”, in County Kildare, Ireland, from March 23-27, 2020. The course will be carried out in partnership with DCAF/ISSAT.
The course aims to provide participants with the knowledge and practical tools on security governance and reform (SSG/R) and justice. It touches upon the holistic nature of SSG/R and covers dimensions related to human security, access to justice and good governance with a focus on both people-centered and state-centered security and justice in fragile/post-conflict contexts.
In addition, participants will engage in a series of exercises aimed at increasing their individual awareness in order to contribute to changes in their attitudes and practices in line with the principles of good governance – most notably the distinction between supporting and engendering a locally owned process in contrast to promoting a practitioner identified solution and trying to obtain local buy-in.
In order to focus on engagement and practical application rather than information/theory transfer, the course will include exercises and introduce tools related to the program cycle that build DCAF-ISSAT’s experience in SSG/R and justice. Indeed, special attention will be paid to the introduction of practical examples through case studies. Interactive co-learning methodologies and simulation exercises that encourage participants to share their own experiences will be used throughout the course.
Overview of the Selection, Preparation and Deployment of EUMS' Civilian Experts to CSDP Missions
The objective of this mandate was to deliver an overview of European Member States approaches to identify, prepare and second civilian experts in the framework of the current exercise involving EUMS and EU institutions on strengthening civilian CSDP.
Advanced Training Course on Security Sector Reform (SSR) (County Kildare, Ireland)
The Irish Ministry of Defence organised a five-day advanced training course on “Security Sector Reform (SSR)”, in County Kildare, Ireland from November 26-30 2018. The course was carried out in partnership with DCAF/ISSAT.
The course targeted senior practitioners and professionals – including civilian, military and police personnel, as well as civil society representatives and professionals from the private sector – who are working closely on issues related to SSR and the specific challenges of violent extremism such as governance, rule of law, police reform, defence reform, justice reform, disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration. The course also targeted those involved in programme design, management and implementation, mission conduct and planning and/or in political/ policy dialogue.
Topics addressed included concept, policy framework and contexts of SSR, governance, justice and defence reform, police, effective advising on SSR as well as cross-cutting issues such as the human rights and gender equality standards.
Indeed, special attention was paid to the introduction of practical examples through case studies. Interactive co-learning methodologies and simulation exercises that encourage participants to share their own experiences were used throughout the course.
Lessons Identification on the Work of UNMIL's Rule of Law Pillar
UNMIL requested ISSAT’s support in taking stock of almost 15 years of deployment in Liberia. This exercise aimed to identify lessons, best practices and areas of innovation from the key outcomes of the support provided by UNMIL’s Rule of Law Pillar – with a focus on :
- service delivery at both central and county level ;
- citizen security and justice ;
- efficiency, integrity and public trust ;
- local ownership and sustainability
The lesson-learning exercise focused on four key areas:
(i) capacity building of state institutions (mentoring, training, and human resources);
(ii) management and regulatory frameworks (law and policy reform, strategic direction, leadership, planning, and various elements of institution building);
(iii) accountability (support to internal, state, and non-state level accountability mechanisms; and
(iv) coordination including support to state-level coordination between institutions in the sector and support to coordination between the state and development partners.
In this regard the exercise considered the strengths and shortcomings of the UNMIL approach, including a review of the evolution of the mandate and its strategic Mission priorities, as well as how the internal organization of UNMIL and the UN (e.g. structures, planning, monitoring, analysis coordination and capacity, and gender mainstreaming aspects) influenced the effectiveness and efficiency of UNMIL support.
The exercise also looked at various stages of the mission:
- immediate post-conflict (re-establishment of state authority)
- drawdown and transition processes.
The target audience for the findings of the report included:
- the United Nations Security Council;
- the UN Secretariat, including DPKO, DPA, PBSO;
- UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes;
- other UN peace operations;
- the Government of Liberia;
- national stakeholders; and
- international partners based in Liberia.
This mandate was conducted in the context of the adoption of its resolution 2333 (2016), authorizing a final extension of the substantive mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to 30 March 2018, and its subsequent liquidation by 30 June 2018.
Principal among UNMIL’s mandate areas has been its extensive engagement in support of rule of law – reform of the justice and security sectors, being the lead international actor supporting these areas since its establishment in 2003, committing significant technical, financial and political resources towards :
- the reform of the national police ;
- the promotion, protection and monitoring of human rights.