Publication

This handbook or 'toolkit' on security sector reform (SSR) and governance provides practical advice on how national authorities in West Africa should approach SSR in inclusive and self-directed ways. In particular, the handbook stresses 1) the importance of political will in SSR-related policy-making; 2) the necessity of involving non-state actors throughout the reform process; 3) the obligation to coordinate SSR with other nationwide reforms and policies; and 4) the role ECOWAS should play in encouraging national 'ownership' of reform processes. Finally, the handbook explores the practical problems states are likely to face when they design and implement SSR programs and how they might solve them.