Local Ownership of Security Sector Reform

"Local ownership" is essential for successful security sector reform (SSR), but donor countries often determine priorities and programs. The resulting programs are too often unsustainable in local contexts, and ultimately fail.  What practical steps can policymakers and practitioners take to encourage local ownership of reform efforts?  A panel of distinguished experts addressed this question at a meeting of USIP's SSR Working Group.

Speakers

• Adedeji Ebo
  Chief, Security Sector Reform Unit, United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations
• Timothy Donais
  Assistant Professor, Global Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University
  Editor of "Local Ownership and Security Sector Reform" (LIT Verlag, 2008)
• Marc Cohen
  Senior Researcher, Humanitarian Policy, Oxfam International
  Co-author of "Protect and Serve or Train and Equip? U.S. Security Assistance and Protection of Civilians" (Oxfam, 2009)
• Aleisha Arnusch
  Lead Researcher, Security Sector Reform, Pearson Peacekeeping Centre
  
• Robert Perito, Moderator
  Director, Security Sector Governance Initiative, U.S. Institute of Peace

Explore Further

• Read a Peace Brief on "Local Ownership of Security Sector Reform."
• Learn more about USIP's work on Security Sector Reform and Security Sector Governance