CLEEN Foundation Beneficiary of the Civil Society and Security Sector Training Workshop, Africa Edition

CLEEN Foundation benefitted from the first Workshop on Civil Society and Security Sector, Africa edition, organized by RESDAL and supported by NED in Monrovia, Liberia from the 6th to the 10th of May, 2018. The topics addressed in the workshop are linked to the reform of the security sector including :basic questions about the security and defense sector; the involvement of civil societies, capacities and skills to develop; civilian-military relations within the context of democratization; DDR Reintegrating members of guerrillas or revolutionary movements; police reforms; transparency of information, especially about budgetary matter; gender and security: the incorporation of a gender perspective within the security and defense sector; reducing the possibility of armed conflict between countries and galvanizing mutual confidence-building measures and presentation of the Latin American experience and different issues regarding security sector reform namely: budgets, human rights, gender, public security and defense, reintegration, defense, security institutions and Data collection. The training brought together credible civil society organizations with track record in this area of work to learn, share and take back some good practices in advancing SSR within the continent. Trainees shared different MODELS that have work for the various countries and organizations that participated at the training, CLEEN Foundation MODEL presented by Chigozirim Okoro, Head, Public Safety & Security Department stood out, most of them indicated interest to come to Nigeria with the sole aim of under-studying the work of CLEEN Foundation. Shortly after the training, the Facilitation for Peace and Development (FAPAD, Uganda) formally wrote to CLEEN Foundation, requesting for cross learning visit to Nigeria. This was done in partnership with the Ugandan Police.  

As you know, RESDAL (Latin American Security and Defence Network), is a non-governmental organization based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, currently working on a program granted by the National Endowment for Democracy which is aimed at sharing the Latin American experience on the security sector and especially linking with other regions of the world. Last year RESDAL developed two workshops in Latin America (in Panama City and in Buenos Aires) with the participation of six Civil society organisations from Africa, Asia and Middle East. Following that successful experience, RESDAL started the second stage with the development of three workshops, this time one in each region. In this opportunity, and in partnership with the Liberia National Law Enforcement Association (LINLEA), RESDAL developed and executed the first Workshop on civil society and security sector - Africa edition, that CLEEN Foundation benefitted.  

CLEEN have implemented some of the activities proposed under a project titled: engendering a Professional, Accountable and Responsive Policing Culture in Nigeria through a Comprehensive Reform of the Nigerian Police Force. 

Summarising the three workshops of 2018, RESDAL confirmed that the first batch of the training was developed in Africa together with Cecil Griffiths, from Liberia National Law Enforcement Association, with whom RESDAL also developed visits to official institutions, during the month of May, 2018. The second training was in the MENA with Zeinab Abul-Magd, from Oberlin College was developed in Morocco in August, 2018. Finally, the most recent and the last training in Asia in Malaysia third week of Dec, 2018.

Opportunities Identified

o  Need to expand the training to benefit more persons;

o  Replication of CLEEN Foundation Model on SSR in Africa, Asia, Middle East and America.

o  Yearly cross learning with counterparts in Africa, Asia, Middle-East and America;

o  Functional CSO network on SSR in Africa, Asia and Middle-East

o  Measurement, Evaluation and Learning.

 Below are the beneficiaries of the training and organizations they represented:

- Sherine Xavier, The Social Architects, Sri Lanka

- Kat Tolosa, Security Sector Reform Initiative, Philippines

- Zeinab Abul-Magd, Oberlin College

- Cecil Griffiths, Liberia National Law Enforcement Association

- Sinikhiwe Machanja, Envision Zimbabwe Women's Trust

- Ye Myo Hein, Tagaung Institute of Political Studies

- Juliet Ebil, Facilitation for Peace and Development (FAPAD), Uganda

- Latyr Tine, Partners West Africa, Senegal

- Chigozirim Okoro, CLEEN Foundation, Nigeria

- Emmanuel Kabengele Kalonji, Reseau Pour La Reforme Du Secteur De Securite Et Justice – RRSSJ, DRC

- Hussein Allawi, AKKAD Center for Strategic Affairs and Future Studies, Iraq

- Hala Salem, Al-Quds Center for Political Studies, Jordan

- Rabha Allam, Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Egypt

- Dr. Dina Rashed, University of Chicago

- Bidur Sibedi, Peace and Justice Promotion Center, Nepal

- Amna Kausar, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT)

- Dr. Wong Ang Pen, National Patriots Association, Malaysia

- Hussain Ahmad, Imparsial, Indonesia

 CLEEN Foundation was established in January 1998 with the mission to promote public safety, security and accessible justice through the strategies of empirical research, legislative advocacy, demonstration programmes and publications, in partnership with government, civil society and the private sector. In our twenty-two (22) years of existence, we have driven our advocacy program through research.