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Strengthening defence and security forces - Our work and impact
Peace and stability are essential conditions for sustainable development. Growing instability in many security arenas due to cross-cutting threats and complex regional dynamics is testing the ability of states to protect their populations over the long term.
Given these mounting security threats, we support our international partner countries and organisations in developing and optimising their defence and security forces under a framework that respects the rule of law. Our actions focus, in particular, on reforming the security sector and its governance.
In this regard, our projects aim to improve the security of populations through comprehensive individual and institutional capacity building of defence and security forces. This enables them to carry out their duties in accordance with democratic principles, human rights and good governance.
+25% of political violence
In 2024, political violence increased by 25% worldwide compared to 2023, with one in eight people exposed to conflict. Data also suggests that global conflicts have doubled in the last five years.
Source: Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED)
Our strategic priorities
In regions severely affected by violence where the role of the state and its representatives is often called into question, restoring trust between citizens and the armed forces is crucial.
Our approach is to facilitate the return of state authorities to fragile territories through the deployment of defence and security forces combined with direct support for civilian populations through joint civil-military actions carried out by security forces on the ground.
Our actions simultaneously respond to the urgent needs of populations and help build trust between defence forces and populations. They are centred around the four key pillars outlined below:
- Infrastructure (construction and renovation): Strengthen the capacity of defence and security forces to carry out their duties by providing infrastructure tailored to their needs.
- Equipment: Improve the capacity of defence and security forces to fully and effectively carry out their duties by providing strategic non-lethal equipment.
- Training: Provide training in the use of equipment and infrastructure, tactics, ethics and international law as well as pre-deployment training for soldiers.
- Support for civil society organisations: Contribute to structural changes across the sector and promote security by means of targeted skills transfer and joint civil-military actions.
Our framework for action
Through our work on the ground, we contribute to the influence and international solidarity of French and European development policy. Our work also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in particular SDG 16, which promotes peaceful societies, access to justice for all, and the establishment of effective, accountable, inclusive institutions.
Our agency carries out its projects based on the security-development nexus. This encourages coordination and integration between security stakeholders and measures to ensure the protection of the state, citizens, and property while supporting our partner countries in reforming the security sector and its governance.
For further reading
Our services in this area
As France’s development cooperation agency, we offer a wide range of services that draw on public and private expertise. As a coordinator of experts, we are attentive to the needs of all stakeholders on the ground and provide tailored support for the duration of the project, following the process below:
- Evaluate needs
- Propose suitable technical solutions
- Oversee negotiations until agreement is reached
- Coordinate the project
- Monitoring technical, financial and security indicators
- Represent our partners in dealings with third parties
Each project is carried out in a spirit of partnership and can contribute to peacekeeping operations, international security operations, or projects that coordinate teams of experts from both the public and private sectors. Whatever the objectives, our projects share the following characteristics:
- Adaptable to needs on the ground, including the geographical context, user needs, coordination with the chain of command, etc.
- Flexible solutions, which can be adapted to respond to changing needs and available technologies
- Sharing of experience and feedback, which ensures that any solutions implemented can be replicated or transferred to other areas
FAQs
For more about defence and security forces
Defence and security forces comprise all civilian and military forces responsible for national defence, domestic security, and the protection of the population and territory. They include the armed forces, domestic security forces and police as well as specialised units. They play an important role in fragile arenas, where they contribute to restoring state authority and securing sensitive areas.
They have varying and interdependent roles, including:
- Defend the national territory and respond to security threats, including transnational ones
- Protect populations and maintain public order
- Combat terrorism, trafficking and organised crime
- Participate in joint civil-military operations to support local populations, rehabilitate infrastructure, conduct relief operations and facilitate local mediation
- Provide training and upskilling, including on the subjects of respect for human rights and gender equality
Expertise France contributes to these missions by providing institutional support to meet the urgent needs of populations while helping to build trust between the defence and security forces and populations.
The armed forces work closely with civil institutions at various levels, including with:
- National governments for strategic planning and to oversee defence operations
- Local authorities to coordinate territorial security and build trust with citizens
- Private sector stakeholders to encourage innovation and ensure an inclusive approach to security initiatives
- Civil society and technical experts to strengthen the inclusion of human rights and equality in defence policies
This collaboration is strengthened by coordination mechanisms, technical twinning, and platforms for dialogue supported by operators such as Expertise France.
Defence and security forces face a number of complex and ever-evolving challenges. These include:
- An increase in threats (trafficking, organised crime, terrorism)
- The need to adapt quickly to difficult security situations (protracted crises, violent conflicts, natural disasters)
- The need to re-establish trust in areas where state institutions are mistrusted
- The need to modernise operational, logistical and governance capacities
- The need for respect for democratic principles, good governance and human rights in operations to improve the security and resilience of populations
Our projects
POCOREMO - Strengthening State presence south of Litani River
Closed
2019 - 2022
Funders : European Union
CRPG5 – Project to Support the Regional Coordination of the Implementation of the Police Component of the G5 S...
Closed
2017 - 2024
Funders : European Union
Key figures
- +13 countries of operation
- +€400 million invested in projects since 2017