General Description
The formulation of a written National Security Policy should result from a full national dialogue: a thorough and inclusive process of consultations with all national (and in some cases regional and international) stakeholders, to form a common understanding of the vision, values, interests, objectives and needs of society and the threats they face. Thus, it should incorporate not only a top-down state-centric approach (emanating from the views and perceptions of the government) but also and importantly a bottom-up human-security approach (based on the perceptions and wishes of the people).
It is for this reason that the first step after the Phase A National Assessment is to articulate clearly key messages that convey the importance of the national security and justice policy and tailor those to various stakeholders that we intend to engage with:
- Individual community members (men, women, boys, girls and elderly)
- Local Civil Society Organisations
- National security and justice actors (state and non-state)
- National political actors (in government and opposition)
The strategic assessment should have generated a set of issues, challenges and opportunities to work from. From those, key messages need to be developed to articulate the importance of a national inclusive process for the development of the policy. These messages should be used to secure support for the upcoming national security and justice forum.
The objective of the national dialogue process is to build consensus and clarify a shared vision for the State’s security and justice commitments to its citizens. Wide consultation rounds with the above categories of stakeholders are key to secure support and engagement for the development of this policy, as well as strengthen its chances to be translated into realistic operational reform plans. These consultations should also generate key issues to be included in the National Security and Justice Forum. The national dialogue could take a year or more to clarify and de-conflict views across sectors and authority levels before the national forum could be held.
Phases and Sub-Activities
Phase A – Assess National Strategic Context, Strategies, Policies and Priorities
Phase B - Build National Security and Justice Vision and Policy
- Launch National Dialogue Process
- Set Up Steering Committee Including Secretariat for Operational Support
- Organise National Dialogue Forum on Security, Justice Vision and Future Policy
- Formulate Preliminary Vision and Basic Elements to be Included in the Security and Justice Policy
- Draft Final National Security and Justice Policy
- Communicate Main Conclusions
Phase C - Build National Security and Justice Strategy
- Undertake Prior Assessment of Strategic Context
- Set Up Steering Committee (if different from National Security Policy Steering Committee)
- Conduct Further National Dialogue on the Means to Meet the Vision and Objectives Outlined in the NSP
- Establish a National Security Forum Composed of Representatives from Government and Academia to Exchange Ideas on Strategy Development
- Decide On Key Priorities, Lead Actors, Coordination Mechanisms, and Human and Financial Resource Needs
- Draft the National Security Strategy