Learning from the Experience of Gendarmerie Forces in Conflict-Afflicted States
Agreement Between RUSI and NATO’s Stability Policing Centre of Excellence
RUSI has signed a cooperation agreement with NATO’s Stability Policing Centre of Excellence (NSPCOE) to identify lessons learned and good practice for the military from the experience of gendarmerie forces working in fragile and conflict-afflicted states.
The development of good practice is integral to international mission effectiveness and sustainability. Sharing operational and tactical lessons between gendarmerie forces (including NSPCOE) and the military can foster this requirement and strengthen policing with communities in hostile environments.
Last December, RUSI hosted a roundtable discussion on the policy assistance programme and security reforms required for building the consent of the local population in Afghanistan in order to achieve police and state legitimacy. This focused on three core strands: community securitisation, community engagement and gender. The broad lessons that emerged revolved around issues such as:
- Enhancing local community awareness and sensitivity
- Tailoring training, advising and assisting programmes to the needs of local police
- Integrating gender within wider police assistance programmes
- Aligning police reform with wider criminal justice activities
- Providing sustained commitment to security and development programmes
- Widening international donor community coordination and cooperation
- Using the most suitable policing models to deliver police capacity building
- Enhancing police–military cooperation.
The cooperation agreement is valid for a period of three years and covers, but is not limited to:
- Collaboration on education and research
- Exchange of teaching and research personnel and provision of expertise
- Collaboration on short-term training, symposia and other academic meetings, workshops and lectures
- Joint participation in national and international research projects
- Activation of stages/internships for research work
- Exchange of materials and documentation for studying and research purposes
- Participation in exercises, when applicable.
