Target Country(ies)
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.
Outcome Objectives
- Establish a baseline, identifying principles and necessary elements for a good functioning of the security and defence forces as well as the justice sector, responding to the needs of the communities they serve and the elected national authorities
- Gain a better understanding of the nature of cooperation on security, justice and defence in each of the target countries as well as on the regional and international level
- Formulate operational guidance and practical tools for the Fund with a view to improving the efficiency and coherence of its actions while respecting the principles of the rule of law and human rights, as well as assuring the participation of civil society and the consideration of gender issues
Outputs
Working session on project methodology : 13-15 September 2017
As part of ISSAT's mandate, experts from the region were received in Geneva on 13-15 September. Experts from Senegal, Togo, Burkina Faso and Mali with considerable experience in the areas of justice, governance, interior security and defence made a meaningful contribution to our mission. The panel contributed to the development of an assessment reference framework, which will now be adapted for use in field missions. Interactions between African and European experts allowed us to place some of our principles in a local context, as well as to take into account various sociological aspects as part of ISSAT’s analytical framework.
Exploratory mission in Niger : 22-24 October 2017
The next step of the project consisted in an exploratory mission to Niamey, Niger. This activity was aimed at establishing the necessary contacts ahead of the main deployment of our experts on governance, security, defence and justice in December.
Coordination meeting in Geneva : 20 November 2017
ISSAT held on 20 November a coordination meeting with four experts in the areas of interior security, governance, justice, prison reform and defence, in order to prepare the upcoming 3-week mission in Niamey.
Final report presenting :
- Comprehensive overview of security problems, especially needs voiced by the population;
- Analytical mapping of the organisation and functioning of security, defence and justice institutions including their interaction;
- Identification of the overall needs of security, defence and justice institutions
- Situational analysis of the cooperation-related activities in regards to security, defence and justice sectors at local, national, (sub-)regional and international levels
- Recommendations to strengthen the Trust Fund’s approach
- Practical tools that can facilitate the Fund’s capacity of identification, formulation, implementation and follow-up of its activities
Start Date
02.08.2017.End Date
30.09.2018.Support Mandates
Scoping mission to Niger
At the end October 2017, ISSAT lead a scoping mission to Niger in order to allow the methodology team to establish contacts with the representatives of the European Union, the Niger authorities and main technical and financial partners as well as civil society actors. These meetings were essential in order to prepare the main mission of the justice, governance, defence and internal security teams, held in December 2017 over a period of three months.
Scoping mission to Burkina Faso
At the end of April 2018, ISSAT led a scoping mission in Ouagadougou in order to allow the methodology team to establish contacts with the representatives of the European Union, the Burkinabe authorities and the main technical and financial partners as well as civil society actors.
Scoping mission to Chad
In the framework of the Sahel SSR assessment process, DCAF-ISSAT will deploy a team of experts for a one week exploratory mission to liaise with representatives from relevant ministries, foreign bilateral and multilateral delegations, civil society, as well as the EU delegation and other international partners.
Scoping mission to Chad
As part of the methodology, DCAF-ISSAT will deploy in May 2018 an SSRA and an SSRO for a one week exploratory mission to liaise with representatives from relevant ministries, foreign bilateral and multilateral delegations, civil society, as well as the EU delegation and other donors.
Mission principale Burkina Faso
Dans le cadre du projet EU Sahel,DCAf-ISSAT a déployé une équipe de quatre experts à Ouagadougou pour prendre contact avec des représentants de ministères, de délégations multilatérales et bilatérales et de la société civile, en particulier avec la délégation de l'UE au Burkina Faso et le projet PARSIB (Projet d’appui au renforcement de la sécurité intérieure au Burkina Faso).
Mission principale Niger
Sept experts ont été mobilisés pour ce déplacement, de une à trois semaines, selon leur champ de compétence spécifique et le nombre de personnes qu’ils devaient rencontrer.
Mission principale Tchad
DCAF‐ISSAT a déployé une équipe composée de 5 conseillers RSS et d'une conseillère méthodologie pour afin de réaliser des entretiens avec des représentants des organisations bilatérales et multilatérales, de la société civile, ainsi que de la délégation de l'Union Européenne au Tchad, dans le cadre d'une mission de trois semaines à N'Djamena.
