Security sector reform trends: conflict-affected states and international responses

Security sector reform (SSR) in conflict-affected states is a key area of focus for the Australian CivilMilitary Centre (ACMC). The ACMC commissioned research from January to April 2013 to map international perspectives and trends in SSR. The goal was to inform future work in the field by providing an understanding of the trends and mapping who is doing what and where. This background paper presents trends across SSR in conflict-affected countries, approaches to supporting SSR, SSR terminology and the politics of funding SSR activities. The paper concludes with an overview of the growth of the SSR community of practice that has emerged in the last decade. The SSR concept has evolved over the last two decades. It describes a range of efforts to improve the security of a state and its citizens, through an effective, affordable, accountable and transparent security sector. SSR is fundamentally about governance of the security sector. It commonly involves programs aimed at: > reconstituting and right-sizing the military, police and other uniformed (armed) institutions, and demarcating roles between them > integrating or returning former combatants to civilian life > strengthening or establishing effective civilian oversight and decision making over state security institutions, and coordination mechanisms to sustain it > rebuilding trust between state security institutions and citizens. When led by national actors, and with coordinated international support, these activities can help sustain peace and reduce conflict relapse