Project
Supporting stabilisation and capacity-building efforts in fragile states around the world through deployment of Danish civilian experts
Patrolling along the Administrative Boundary Lines. Photo: EUMM Georgia
The Deployment Facility for Peace and Democracy is an efficient Danish secondment mechanism managed by NIRAS under the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, used to deploy civilian experts to hotspots where stabilisation, peacekeeping and democracy-building efforts are needed. In February 2023, NIRAS started implementation of the fourth contract phase of this project. To boost effectiveness and apply a whole-of-government approach, the Facility is governed by the strategic priorities set out by the Danish Peace and Stabilisation Fund.
September 14, 2023
- SDG: #16, #17
- SECTORS: Development Consulting
- CLIENT: MFA Denmark
- CONTRACT VALUE: 16,318,121 DKK
The gap between the most and the least peaceful countries is growing, according to the Global Peace Index (GPI), which also points to the likeliness of this trend to continue due to the spread of cheaper advanced military technologies, increasing geopolitical competition and political instability in many countries.
Both violence and peacefulness can have spill-over effects across regions and country borders, which in turn can lead to vicious or virtuous cycles, underlining the importance of systematic stabilisation efforts to counter the spread of violence and conflict and support the propagation of peace, stability and democracy. To this end, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since 1994 used the Deployment Facility for Peace and Democracy (DFPD) to second thousands of Danish civilian experts to short, medium and long term assignments, with tasks ranging from crisis management, stabilisation, capacity building, peacebuilding, monitoring humanitarian reconstruction and election observation in fragile democracies around the world.
However, finding the right expert for the job is no easy task. Since 2008, the MFA has contracted NIRAS with administrative management of the DFPD. While the MFA has the political responsibility of the DFPD, NIRAS serves to identify, train, contract and deploy qualified experts to international missions operated by the EU, UN NATO, OSCE and others.
Context-adapted support to Ukraine
One of several missions to which the DFPD seconds civilian experts is the European Union Advisory Mission (EUAM) in Ukraine. The mission was established in the wake of the 2013-2014 Revolution of Dignity, with the aim to restore public trust towards government and security forces through a reform of the civilian security sector. Since the Russian invasion in 2022, the mission’s mandate has changed, which implies that the EUAM now provides support to law enforcement agencies to facilitate the flow of refugees from Ukraine to neighbouring states and the entry of humanitarian aid into Ukraine. EUAM also supports the rule of law institutions in investigation and prosecution of international crimes.
The DFPD's key working areas include:
- Civilian crisis management, stabilisation and peacekeeping
- Monitoring human rights violations and international agreements
- Capacity building of the security and justice sector and support for policy development
- Election observation and other initiatives contributing to democratic societies
Building Somalia's capacity within maritime security
Danish civilian experts are also seconded to the European Union Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP) in Somalia, which contributes to the establishment of a peaceful, stable and democratic Somalia with a focus on its maritime security issues and enhancement of police capacity. Together with the Somali authorities, the mission supports to define and improve Somalia’s Maritime Security Architecture, including the legal framework and general law enforcement capacity.
Fighting terrorism and organised crime in the Sahel by strengthening security sectors
Denmark also contributes with experts to the EUCAP Sahel Mali and EUCAP Sahel Niger missions. The aim of the missions is to support the fight against organised crime and terrorism in the Sahel region through strengthening of the internal security sectors.
In light of the recent coup d’état in Niger, the EUCAP Sahel Niger mission is still in operation however on a lower scale due and adapted to the difficult circumstances.
Contributing to stabilisation in the region between Russia and Georgia
Established after the 2008-war between Georgia and Russia, the EU Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM Georgia) is an unarmed civilian monitoring mission, to which the DFPD also deploys experts. It seeks to contribute to stabilisation, creating trust and normalizing the relationship between the conflicting parties. The mission is thus present in the critical areas between the two break-away regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, in order to ensure that there is no return to hostilities and build trust among the parties while facilitating resumption to a safe and normal life for local communities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It also aims to inform EU policy in Georgia and the wider region.
Support to democracies around the globe through election observation
Free and fair elections are a cornerstone for a well-functioning democracy, and upholding respect for fundamental freedoms while ensuring that elections are characterized by equality, universality, political pluralism, confidence and accountability is essential. To that end, the DFPD deploys Danish experts as both long and short term observers to election observation mission around the globe through the EU and OSCE/ODIHR.
