GFN-SSR

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of the Armed Forces (DCAF) - Link to site

The Centre encourages and supports States and non-State governed institutions in their efforts to strengthen democratic and civilian control of armed and security forces, and promotes international cooperation in this field, initially targeting the Euro-Atlantic regions. To implement these objectives, the Centre: collects information, undertakes research and engages in networking activities in order to identify problems, to establish lessons learned and to propose the best practices in the field of democratic control of armed forces and civil-military relations; provides its expertise and support to all interested parties, in particular governments, parliaments, military authorities, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic circles.

Specialisations: Provides Bilateral and multilateral expertise.

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) - Link to site

The Centre encourages and supports States and non-State governed institutions in their efforts to strengthen democratic and civilian control of armed and security forces, and promotes international cooperation in this field, initially targeting the Euro-Atlantic regions. To implement these objectives, the Centre: collects information, undertakes research and engages in networking activities in order to identify problems, to establish lessons learned and to propose the best practices in the field of democratic control of armed forces and civil-military relations; provides its expertise and support to all interested parties, in particular governments, parliaments, military authorities, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, academic circles.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) - Link to site

The task of this research institute is to conduct research on questions of conflict and cooperation of importance for international peace and security, with the aim of contributing to an understanding of the conditions for peaceful solutions of international conflicts and for a stable peace. In order to facilitate access to their information, they provide a public website where researchers, policy makers and the interested public can browse through the results of research activities. You may also want to consult the databases of their library and documentation service for interesting references.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) - Link to site

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is a non-profit organisation working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. Calling on a global network of volunteer experts, NDI provides practical assistance to civic and political leaders advancing democratic values, practices and institutions. NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections, and to promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

Netherlands Institute of International Relations “Clingendael” - Link to site

The objective of the Netherlands Institute of International Relations “Clingendael”) is to promote the understanding of international affairs. Special attention is devoted to NATO, the European Community, the United Nations and other international organizations. Clingendael seeks to achieve its objective by means of research, the publication of studies, the organization of courses and training programmes, and the provision of information. It acts in an advisory capacity to the government, parliament and social organizations, organizes conferences and meetings, maintains a library and documentation centre, and publishes a monthly journal. As an international institute, Clingendael is itself closely involved with developments in the world. Foreign politicians, diplomats, journalists and researchers are frequently invited to give lectures and to take part in conferences and seminars. Visiting researchers from Central Europe and elsewhere participate in the Institute's activities. Clingendael provides training courses in present-day European relations for diplomats from East European countries, and also assists with the training of specialists in those various countries. It maintains regular contacts with other major research institutes throughout Europe and the United States and, together with similar institutes in Western Europe, prepares studies for the European Commission.

Institute for Development Studies (IDS) - Link to site

IDS is an internationally-renowned centre for research and teaching on development, established in 1966. IDS also hosts many innovative information and knowledge management services.

Specialisations: Development research, development teaching, information services, knowledge management services, collaborative research web sites, development sites,

Department of Peace Studies, University of Bradford - Link to site

The Department of Peace Studies at Bradford University in England was established 25 years ago and has grown to be the largest university centre for peace studies in the world. The Department's work in peace and social change involves a range of programmes in Latin America and Africa, including Jamaica, Namibia and Mozambique. Many concentrate on the effects of conflict on development. Others are concerned with the idea of civil society and the process of non-violent social change, the latter including links with Gandhian scholars in India. The third major area of concern is with international security. This includes research programmes in the control of conventional arms transfers, nuclear and biological weapons control and the development of international regimes to promote environmental security. There is a particular interest in North/South relations and a concern that a new axis of global confrontation could develop after the Cold War. Primary determinants of international peace and security are now seen to be the deep global socio-economic divisions, environmental constraints on human development, and the legacy of militarisation left by the Cold War. Genuine human security must therefore embrace issues of economic cooperation, sustainable development and environmental management as well as the control of militarisation. This area of research is expanding within the Department and there is a particular interest in the way in which the Commonwealth, as a model of the entire global system, may have a valuable role to play in facilitating new thinking and policy formulation on these issues.The Centre for Conflict Resolution is a research unit within the Department, combining theoretical studies in peacekeeping, mediation and conflict resolution with a range of practical programmes, many of them concerned with training mediators in areas in conflict. Staff have worked recently in former-Yugoslavia, Cyprus, Sri Lanka and Uganda, they have collaborated in mediation training for diplomats in Britain and Malaysia, and maintain links with centres in South Africa, Canada and Australia. The Centre issues a digest of news and documents on Conflict Prevention, Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacemaking. The Department has a large publishing programme, including the regular newsletter three times a year and the Bradford Arms Register Studies(BARS) Project.

Global Development Network (GDN) - Link to site

Since its inception in 1999, GDN has supported and linked research institutes that generate, share and apply knowledge about development. To foster new knowledge, GDN regional networks established competitive peer-review grant mechanisms and distributed millions of dollars in research grants to developing country institutes. GDN facilitates knowledge sharing through regional conferences, the annual GDN Global Development Conference, and through electronic tools: a monthly e-mail newsletter, and online discussions. GDN provides policy researchers in developing countries access to financial support and data resources, and helps to strengthen collaboration with their counterparts throughout the globe. GDN products and services are being shaped to meet the demands of research institutes in developing countries, based on informal consultations, surveys and regular systematic feedback.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) - Link to site

The MOD is the ministry responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, and Overseas Territories, its people and interests. It also assumes a moral duty of strengthening international peace and security.

It has become one of the clients of the GFN-SSR. We provide the MOD with relevant security- and defence-related information about its partner countries, for effective defence reforms in those countries. Its defence reform activities in partner countries are relevant for the success of the overall SSR agenda.

Specifically, MOD works to prevent conflicts and build stability; resolve crises and respond to emergencies; protect and further UK interests; meet our commitments and responsibilities; work with Allies and partners to strengthen international security relationships

Department for International Development (DFID) - Link to site

DFID is the UK Government department responsible for promoting development and the reduction of poverty in the Third World. It is committed to the development targets of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015. Associated targets include basic health care provision and universal access to primary education by the same date. A second White Paper on International Development, published in December 2000, reaffirmed this commitment, while focusing specifically on how to manage the process of globalisation to benefit poor people
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With the growing realisation that security is indispensable to development, DFID has become one of the cardinal lead agencies in the SSR agenda.

DFID seeks to work in partnership with governments committed to these targets, with business, civil society and the research community. DFID also works with multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, United Nations agencies and the European Community. The bulk of DFID's assistance is concentrated on the poorest countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, but DFID also contributes to poverty elimination and sustainable development in middle-income countries in Latin America, the Caribbean and the transition countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) - Link to site

FCO is the ministry responsible for UK’s foreign affairs promoting its interests overseas. It works through its embassies, high commissions and consulate across the globe. The FCO’s commitments to ensuring quality of life for all, a strong international community, and international stability, are reflected in the FCO’s work to protect the environment; ensure a sustainable global economy; promote human rights civil liberties and democracy; ensure international security and to combat the illegal drugs trade and other htmlects of international crime. This portfolio of activities has made a critical actor in the SSR agenda with which we have forged a partnership.

A strong international community, the UK’s prosperity and security, international stability, environmental protection, sustainable global economy, human rights, civil liberties, democracy, international security, illegal drugs trade and other htmlects of international crime.

Kings College London - Link to site

The Kings College is doing an excellent research work on related field through its Centre for Defence Studies

The Centre publishes a periodical on Conflict, Security and Development (CSD). The CSD a leading series of excellent articles by distinguish experts on issues of security and development from around the globe.

The International Development Department of the University of Birmingham (IDD) - Link to site

IDD focuses specifically on the key issues of good governance and public management, including financial management; poverty reduction; and urban and sustainable development. It geographic focus is on the developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, as well as those of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union where it has extended expertise and experience to many countries with transitional and emerging economies.

Bonn International Centre for Conversion (BICC) - Link to site

The BICC has become a very valuable partner as its preoccupation with the conversion of military resources for civilian purposes holds the prospect of promoting the necessary environment for SSR
Reduction in defence spending, demobilisation and reintegration, defence industry restructuring, military reorientation, arms control, and base closure and redevelopment.