1. Peacebuilding Approaches to Training & Dialogue with Security Forces

2. Why are we here?
Learning exchange between groups working at the intersection of civil society peacebuilding and the security sector
Share ideas on a global training curricula to support better security sector-civil society relations

3. Shared Operational Environment
International organizations
Local and international security forces
Private contractors
Local civil society groups
Multi-mandate NGOs
Humanitarian organizations
Host Government
Civilian Population
Working together within usually very complex environments is complicated. In many contexts, there are groups representing each of these circles. There are many types of civilians. Most military forces only or mostly receive training on how to relate to humanitarian NGOs and agencies. These are one important civilian grouping, But there are other types of civilians doing important non-humanitarian types of work.

4. Coordination in Complex Environments
Only coordination mechanisms and guidance for Humanitarian Civil Military Coordination
No guidance or coordination mechanisms for Civil Military Relations between security sector and multi-mandate NGOs and local civil society organizations
Existing coordination mechanisms at the UN focus only on humanitarian coordination –there are not enough independent structures or processes that provide a safe place for NGOs and military to meet to discuss non-humanitarian issues.

5. 4 Interrelated Trends Increased need for coordination
Increase in Civil Society Efforts in Peacebuilding and Countering Extremism
Increase in Security Sector outreach to civilians for counterinsurgency, stabilization, QIPs
Increase in attacks against NGOs, CSOs, and civilians
Increase in Security Force Assistance and SSR requirement for community engagement
We will present four trends that we have observed in our operational environment, which lead us to recommendations on civil-military relations and coordination. We will go through these one by one with some examples.
4 Interrelated Trends

6. Local – regional - global
Trend 1: Increase in Civil Society Organizations in Conflict Prevention & Peacebuilding
Local – regional - global
Firstly there has been a rapid increase in the number of NGOs or “civil society organizations” that are directly working on the drivers of conflict and attempting to counter violent extremism. In almost every country of the world, there are universities offering courses or degrees in peacebuilding and there are local experts who take great risks to foster peace. GPPAC is an expression of this trend – .

7. Trend 2: Increase in Security Sector reaching out to civilians via “Comprehensive Approach” for Counterinsurgency, Stabilization, Counterterrorism, etc
First, more military forces around the world are being called upon to reach out to civilians to aid in stabilization, counterinsurgency and intelligence gathering for counterterrorism.

8. Emphasis on achieving foreign-defined national interests
Stabilization
Peacebuilding
Primary Goal
Emphasis on achieving foreign-defined national interests
Emphasis on achieving locally-defined human security
Primary Actor
Emphasis on foreign capacity and leadership with transition to locals
Emphasis on local capacity and local leadership
Civil-Military Coordination
Emphasis on comprehensive approach or “whole of government” capacity – coordination of government civilians and military
Emphasis on “whole of society” capacity – coordination of an independent civil society with government civilians and military
Time Frame
Emphasis on short-term projects
Emphasis on long-term goals
It also became clear in Iraq and Afghanistan that Peacebuilding and Stabilization are not the same thing – although they are similar in some ways.

9. Trend 3: NGOs and CSOs are increasingly deliberately targeted in political attacks
The fourth trend is that more NGOs and CSOs are being deliberately targeted in political attacks.

10. Coordination with Types of Civilians
Not all NGOs are equally neutral and impartial. But all need a sense of independence. All NGOs and CSOs need to be distinct from military forces. NGOs are not contractors.

11. Trend 4: Increased recognition of the need for better Community Engagement in Security Sector Reform and Security Assistance Training
Third, there is an increase in the recognition that much of the security force assistance and security sector reform efforts have not been as successful as we’d like them to be. One of the most frequent conclusions of researchers studying these processes is that security forces everywhere need to do a better job of community engagement. If communities perceive security forces as “predators” rather than “protectors” – there is a problem.

12. National Security Dialogues are essential to SSR
Predators
Public perception that security forces are predators
National Security Dialogue
Security forces, government and civil society dialogue on nature of security threats and how to work together to improve human security
Protectors
Public perception that security forces are protectors
Security force assistance and SSR processes require public engagement. In many countries, the public views security forces as predators, not protectors. National security dialogues help build positive relationships between security forces and the public and foster agreements on how to define security and how to jointly work together to pursue human security.

13. Increased need for coordination
Increase in Civil Society Efforts in Peacebuilding and Countering Extremism
Increase in Security Sector outreach to civilians for counterinsurgency, stabilization, QIPs
Increase in attacks against NGOs, CSOs, and civilians
Increase in Security Force Assistance and SSR requirement for community engagement
We will present four trends that we have observed in our operational environment, which lead us to recommendations on civil-military relations and coordination. We will go through these one by one with some examples.
4 Interrelated Trends

14. Two Paradigms of Security
National Security
Human Security
Civil society pursues human security. Sometimes this overlaps with national security goals and there can be areas of collaboration, particularly in DDR and SSR. But sometimes national security and human security are not the same – and so military forces and NGOs are working toward different goals.

15. Comprehensive Approach
Approaches to Coordination
Comprehensive Approach
via Structural Integration with military chain of command to achieve military goal
Humanitarian Civil Military Coordination
via communication mechanisms with civilian chain of command to achieve civilian humanitarian goal
Whole of Society Infrastructures for Peace
via facilitated communication mechanisms with loose infrastructure to achieve human security
Civil society is working to develop mechanisms of communication and coordination that respect the need for distinction between military and civilian targets. GPPAC network working toward “Infrastructures for peace” and “whole of society” coordination in many countries.

16. Goal Coordinate a global process
involving broad consultation with diverse civil society and security sector stakeholders
to write a master curriculum for training security forces and civil society
in key concepts, practical skills and processes
to support human security

17. Objectives
To improve training for security forces in relating to civilians
To improve training for civil society in relating to security forces

18. Audiences
Primary Audience: Existing training centers for civil-military relations
National and International political and military leadership at strategic level
National and International military leadership at operational level
National police departments
Civil Society Organizations (broad range)
International organizations (UN, World Bank, etc)
Regional organizations (AU, OAS, etc)
We have been building a network of relationships with military training centers that provide training on these topics. We invite input and guidance so that our curriculum will be helpful to existing training programs.

19. E-Learning Training Package
specific learning objectives
clear and concise content
boxed case study examples
list of training activities including supporting exercises and role plays
on-line videos or downloadable powerpoints
links to further resources
The curriculum will be hosted on-line on a variety of web platforms that will allow organizations to tailor the training modules and lessons that are appropriate for their students.