Security Sector Reform
The aim of the course is to provide participants with knowledge about concepts and themes of Security Sector Reform (SSR) and hands-on practical skills to apply in Security Sector Reform programmes for civilian crisis management.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the underlying principles and main concepts of SSR and their relevance for crisis management
- Understand the importance of cross-cutting themes for SSR, such as holism and gender
- Explain the multidisciplinary character of the security sector and how their reform can be addressed in an integrated manner
- Have knowledge of the EU-approach to SSR
- Have hands on knowledge of the instruments available at the EU for addressing SSR
- Identify the main challenges and limitations for SSR-programmes in the practice of crisis management
Course outline
The course will cover the following core topics:
- SSR principles and concepts in theory and practice
- Implementing SSR – cross cutting themes
- Dealing with SSR’s multidisciplinary character (police, justice, prison, defence, security services and civil society)
- The EU tools and instruments available for SSR
- Learning from experience: the problems and chances of implementing SSR programmes
- Skills and competences in SSR programmes – A simulation exercise
Methodology
This five-day residential course will use experiential learning, reflection and simulation exercises to develop the skills, knowledge and competencies of participants with regard to SSR. The course methodology will use the breadth and depth of experience among participants and course facilitators to reach a shared understanding of how SSR can be implemented most effectively.
The course aims to combine knowledge exchange on current theory and policies on the key principles and concepts of SSR and a ‘learning by doing’ approach focusing on best practices in actual SSR programmes. Participants will be selected on the basis of relevant field experience, gender, probability of actual deployment and English language competency (since the course will be delivered in English). There will be a minimum of 16 and maximum of 25 participants.
Implementing Partners
Lead implementing body: Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael (NIIB), Netherlands
Other partner implementing bodies: Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR), Austria; Royal Institute for International Relations (Egmont Institute), Belgium
Date and Location
UPDATE: 5 - 9 December 2011, Netherlands
