30 September 2011

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The African Security Sector Network (ASSN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for closer collaboration with the International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT).

Based in Geneva, ISSAT is one of the main divisions of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), which is one of the world’s leading institutions in the areas of Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Security Sector Governance (SSG).

The MOU was signed in Geneva on September 30 by ASSN Chair Professor Eboe Hutchful, ISSAT Head Mark Downes and Ambassador Theodore Winkler, the Director of DCAF. Building on an already existing MOU between the ASSN and DCAF, the new MOU was signed on the sidelines of a two and half day meeting of the ISSAT’s Governing Board, Expert Roster Members and staff, to which the ASSN had been invited to attend.

The ISSAT meeting was followed by an SSR Train-the-Trainers (ToT) Workshop. The ASSN was represented at both gatherings by Professor Hutchful, Senior Programme Manager Ecoma Alaga and ASSN member Janine Rauch. Also in attendance was Mpako Foaleng, an ISSAT staff member who also holds membership in the ASSN.

Designed to achieve maximize synergy between the ASSN and ISSAT, the MOU seeks to facilitate collaboration between the two organizations on African security sector-related activities and programmes, as well as to help synchronize the international community’s approach with the contextual needs of SSR processes in Africa.

Among other things, two organizations will share materials for SSR training activities in Africa; Share resources that enhance programme design, assessment and review/evaluation; Regularly share information on African SSR activities and developments; Collaborate on the ASSN’s ongoing effort to achieve an effective web-based platform for African SSR expertise; and strive to make it easier for the international community to tap into indigenous African SSR expertise.

The ASSN-ISSAT liaison, Mpako Foaleng, will draw up an action plan to guide the implementation of the MOU, in consultation with Janine Rauch. Aside from finalising the MOU, the ASSN also used the opportunity to familiarise itself with the mandate and workings of ISSAT, as well as to observe ISSAT’s training methodologies with the objective of improving similar ASSN programmes.