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Background
The ASSN was created out of recognition of the need to harmonise the
various African organisations carrying out activities in the general
area of security sector reform/transformation/governance (SSR/SST/SSG).
Though there are few organisations that designate
themselves as working specifically in this area many operate
within directly related fields, augmenting the probability of effort
duplication on the same matters and the relegation of other important
strands of work. Also, by bringing these organisations together under an
African network of networks they will be able to identify core member
competencies, within a complementary and inclusive process framework. By
avoiding overlap in core competencies each individual organization can
strengthen itself to bring added value to the overall network with the
intent to contribute to the peace and security agendas of the continent.
These
ideas, which had already been developing amongst a group of African
scholars and practitioners with an interest in SSR, were expressed in an
embryonic form by the African delegates in the HMG Forum on “SSR: Moving
the Agenda Forward”, held in
In
light of this recommendation the GFN-SSR facilitated the Mozambique
Security Network Symposium (July 2003)[2],
which advanced the discussion in terms of identifying the existing
formal and informal networks and the role that Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs) can play in influencing the SSR agenda in Africa.
The meeting produced a declaration that served as a departure point for
the elaboration of an agenda for the network and established the need
for a small ‘secretariat’ to implement it. This document was distributed
at the AU Summit the following week.
During a workshop on Security Sector Governance hosted by African
Security Dialogue and Research (ASDR) in collaboration with the GFN-SSR
(November 2003), and attended by network members and representatives of
African security sector organisations and institutions, a proposal on
the modalities of the network was submitted for consideration[3].
An
Interim Steering Committee (ISC) for the network was formed to
facilitate and coordinate its plan of action[4].
A document designated “Short
Term Plan for the Activation of the ASSN ISC” was subsequently
produced by the network convener,
Additionally, it was recommended
by the network that a proposal outlining possible network strategies
with necessary time frames, resource considerations and evaluation
mechanisms be developed and submitted for donor funding.
[1]
African delegates suggested that a network be formed to bridge
the gaps between academics and practitioners; between CSO,
parliamentarians and the various state actors within the
security sector; and to enable the sharing of experiences
between different traditions of organisation and security
practice (anglophone, francophone and lusophone). See the report
Security Sector Reform: Moving the Agenda Forward (particularly
the African Regional Forum)
http://www.gfn-ssr.org/edocs/gfn014_lancaster_house_forum_2003.pdf
[2]
See the report and remaining documentation of this meeting in
http://www.gfn-ssr.org/edocs/gfn024_network_networks.pdf
we need to insert links to these documents which are now on the
www.ssronline.org
[3]
The document was entitled ‘Short Term
Strategic Implementation Framework for the Operationalisation of
the Maputo Security Network Symposium’
[4]
See the report ‘Meeting for Selection of an Interim Steering
Committee for the African Network of Networks on Security
Matters’ in
http://www.gfn-ssr.org/edocs/gfn035_lalaa_african_networkting_report_2004.pdf
we need to insert links to these
documents which are now on the www.ssronline.org