Capacity Building

 

With the intention to strengthen the capacities of the Security Sector Monitoring Network in the research field in the security sector, in the frame of this program, IDM with the support of DCAF, organized in November 2010, a two-day training titled: “How to write effective policy briefs”. The training which was held in IDM premises was conducted by senior experts of DCAF in the field of security sector reforms: Mr. David Law and Mr. Bard Knudsen.

This activity aimed at:

  • Acquitting the participants of the Security Sector Monitoring Network with the main issues of the security sector reforms and at the same time to help the participants to define the topics that they would focus in the future for writing policy briefs.

  • Reviewing the best practices of the techniques of writing policy briefs with the aim to increase effectiveness in the respective audiences.

  • Helping the participants build the teams in which they will be engaged in the future to write research studies and policy briefs.

  • Facilitating communication among junior researchers of the Security Monitoring Network

The training focused on two important components: the theoretical aspect where participants were introduced with some of the basic principles that should be taken into consideration when writing policy briefs; and the practical aspect where participants were asked to work and reflect on specific topics within the security sector reforms in Albania. During the first session was discussed about the differences between ‘policy documents’ and ‘academic papers’ enabling a review of various models of policy briefs and their use in general. The senior experts of DCAF presented the main structures of ‘policy briefs’ and gave valuable advice to be taken into consideration while writing them. In the second session they discussed specific examples of ‘policy briefs’, enabling junior researchers to engage in practical tasks of writing policy briefs as well as at the same time to manage to assess their work, based upon best practices of writing research studies in the field of security sector reforms. Furthermore, taking into account the interests and knowledge of the members, the network was divided into four main groups, where everyone was involved in writing one of the policy briefs.

 

Products – Policy Papers

Each of the policy papers were launched in a series of public events – roundtables with the participation of civil society representatives, public institutions, international community, and academia. These activities aimed at presenting to the general public the research work carried out within this project.

With the intention to influence policy makers and decision makers’ audience at different levels, IDM tried to ensure not only a broad media coverage of these public events, but more importantly, a qualitative representation of actors and interest groups in these meetings. Constructive discussions and debates were carried out that helped the process of raising awareness for the topics at hand. These policy briefs are presented in the publication “Security Sector Reform Issues in Albania – Vol II”, together with an executive summary in English. All the materials in English and Albanian language are available at IDM’s website: www.idmalbania.org

 

  • The New National Security Strategy Document. An assessment of risks, threats and challenges: How to build a more inclusive and accountable process?

This policy paper, prepared by Geron Kamberi, Enri Hide, and Besnik Baka, aims not only to give a general view of the current implication of the process but also to ensure a useful platform for discussion on the eve of the review and drafting of the new National Security Strategy Document. More specifically, the purpose is to provide a summary analysis of the Albanian CRT assessment so far, focusing on three important levels of a final integrated process.

The first part of the paper comprises a theoretical approach to the main concepts of challenges, risks and threats, and the way they are reflected in view of national security perspectives. The second one provides an outline of the Albanian national security framework for the definition of CRT, followed by an analysis of the importance of an inclusive policy and decision-making process, with the participation of different actors and groups of interest. This analysis assesses the contributive role that other actors, mainly from civil society sector, might play in this specific policy area.

On March 10th IDM in coordination with the inter-ministerial expert working group for the drafting of the document of National Security, organized the round table “National Security Policy: Inclusiveness within and beyond institutions”, with representatives from the key institutions of the security sector, to launch the policy paper. with the participation of senior political and non political officials at public administration, top-ranking civil servants at independent institutions as well as security experts from universities, academia, think tank institutes and media.)

 

  • Promoting Women in the Albanian Armed Forces: From a Visual Representativeness to an Operational Approach

This policy brief, prepared by SMN members Edlira Peco, Euron Leka and Etilda Salihi, focuses on the opportunities and obstacles of changing gender relations within a traditionally male-dominated Albanian Armed Forces. Based on a thorough legal analysis, a focused policy and institutional assessment and on the introduction of a best practice, the case of Rumania as a comparative review, the document aims at exploring the dynamics of the gender equality, the patterns of integrating women in the promotion procedures in the Armed Forces and consequently, re-establishing gender relations within and outside the Albanian Armed Forces in general.

The paper concludes that gender equality in the Armed Forces of Albania should be seen more from a qualitative approach rather than simply in quantitative figures. This means that women in the army should not only be recruited and contracted but they should also be engaged and treated in the same way as their male colleagues. Such an approach would help to improve their position and better shape gender equality not only in the Armed Forces but also in the overall Albanian Society.

The Institute for Democracy and Mediation (IDM), on the 10th of December 2010 at Hotel “Rogner”, organized the roundtable for launching the study “Gender Equality in the Albanian Armed Forces” prepared by three IDM associated researchers: Edlira Peco, Eurona Leka and Etlida Saliu. Participants in this meeting included representatives from public institutions (Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Equal Chances, The Presidency, Academy of Defense etc.,) as well as invited persons from civil society (main women NGOs). This meeting was focused on the problematique of gender equality within the Armed Forces of Albania. 

This roundtable aimed to gather together the interested stakeholders for discussing and articulating some of the main aspects of women representation such as:

  • Gender Equality aspects in the AF; the context and theoretical framework

  • The legal aspects of Gender Equality in the Armed Forces

  • Best Practices of Gender equality in AF: Romania as a Case Study

The representatives of the AF and civil society estimated this activity as a good chance to express the problems of gender equality in the AF as well as for getting a more appropriate knowledge of the situation in this regard.

 

  • Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector through Budgeting

This paper, prepared by SMN members Genci Kojdheli, Suela Jahaj and Besnik Baka, aims to present the current status of the parliamentary oversight of the security sector as well as some relevant recommendations for improving the applicable legal and institutional framework, and to encourage public and professional debate in this framework. The followed methodology includes analysis of legal regulations, official documents, previous studies as well as interviews with members of the Albanian Parliament’s Committee for National Security, the staff of the Committee for National Security and representatives of the Ombudsman. This document addresses a wide audience in the public administration who have jurisdiction in the affairs in the defense and security sector, as well as members of the Committee for National Security along with all MPs, and interested international, governmental and non-governmental organizations and the media. We expect this analysis to encourage a more competent and intense public and professional debate on the parliamentary oversight of the security sector concerning the development of democratic values, accountability and transparency.

 

  • The need to reform the Intelligence Service System in Albania

This paper analyses Albania’s intelligence system and tries to make an assessment of the main problems is faces. The paper calls for the need of a comprehensive reform which should bring the intelligence system in line with the international norms and standards. Albania lacks central management and coordination mechanisms to ensure full and efficient cooperation among the intelligence and security and law enforcement agencies. Increasing the intelligence activity and number of the agencies with no coordination mechanisms in place has made the process of management and control more complicated. Another feature of the recent developments is the blurring of lines between law enforcement and intelligence. Lack of oversight provisions in the legislation of the newer agencies and poor practice have led to an incongruous oversight of agencies carrying out similar activities.

On July 20th 2011, Institute for Democracy and Mediation organized in the premises of Hotel Tirana International the joint round table about “The need to reform the intelligence system in Albania” and “Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector Through Budgeting”. High representatives from the Ministry of Interior, Intelligent Services, General Prosecutor Office, Ministry of Justice, Ombudsperson, Members of Parliament, representatives from civil society and media.

During the activity, the two policy documents were presented. After the presentation lively discussions and constructive debates took place between the participants on the obstacles related to the reform in the itelligence services and a more active role of parliamentary oversight through budgeting.