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Whole of Government Strategy for Engagement in an African Country
Problem
This African country ranked among the top foreign policy priorities for our client. Multiple conflicts within the country and its region adversely affected internationradicalizational priorities related to security, controlled migration, humanitarian protection, and sustainable development. Because of these impacts, the client identified a need to articulate a strategy for its engagement that would foster greater stability in the country.
Approach
Jan Consulting was asked to facilitate a cross-government strategy process that would create a common strategy for engagement and generate buy-in from multiple internal stakeholders. A three stage process was designed:
- Phase 1: Assembling Fact Base and Scenarios
- Phase 2: Identifying Priorities for Engagement
- Phase 3: Agreeing Strategy
Recommendations
Recommendations focused on a few, critical areas of engagement rather than covering the full spectrum. A clear decision to limit the scope of engagement to those areas where the impact of engagement was potentially highest was taken at government officials’ level. Several key areas of focus emerged from this process which addressed the main drivers of change in the country. An influencing strategy for key international partners was also developed.
Results
A change in the client’s approach was evident during the course of the project, before the strategy was formally agreed. The process was designed to generate buy-in from the outset, and government Departments started to adjust their approaches mid-stream. The final Ministerial sign-off enabled a realignment of resources from previous areas of engagement to newly identified priorities. It also provided a political impetus for the client government to play a more active role to align regional and international efforts behind its own priorities.
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Identifying Drivers of Extremism in an Asian Country
Problem
This country was a critical player in global counter-terrorism efforts. The sharp growth of extremism within the country posed an increasingly serious threat to the viability of the state, the consequences of which could be catastrophic in terms of human suffering and global insecurity. Western governments’ approach to the country remained heavily focused on strengthening security against terrorism radiating from the country, and not sufficiently on addressing its main drivers. In a context of growing concern that current approaches were insufficient, Jan Consulting was asked to conduct an assessment of the drivers of radicalisation and extremism in the country and identify policy steps aimed at tackling them.
Approach
Our approach was focused on gathering a sound evidence and analytical basis to understand the forces creating extremism in the country, test hypotheses based on the analysis, and generate policy options to reverse the trend. To this end, we conducted the following work in-country:
- Collected a wide range of relevant analyses on extremism in the country and selected primary data which was used to draw conclusions
- Identified and interviewed a range of analysts, observers and others to test analyses and ideas
- Generated and tested a set of hypotheses against available evidence and informed opinion
- Shared emerging analysis with client through several workshops that enabled feedback and further guidance into particular areas for inquiry
- Identified critical policy choices that were prioritised by impact and ability to influence
Recommendations
We identified twelve key drivers of extremism, ranging from the more proximate to the deep-seated. Policy implications to reduce extremism were identified for each driver. Recommendations highlighted the near term actions that were needed, in particular by the state, to reduce the sources of extremism, and the nature and extent of influence that outside parties could bring to bear on the situation. In the longer-term, specific areas were highlighted where concerted effort by domestic and international partners could make a tangible difference.
Results
The classified report from the project challenged some long-held assumptions. It contributed to a serious stock-take of the client’s approach to the country and was used to inform the design of both donor assistance plans for and political engagement with the country.
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International Approach to Security Sector Engagement in a Failed State
Problem
This country suffered from almost two decades of civil conflict and virtually all state institutions had collapsed. Foreign governments, the UN and the regional organization were struggling with how to recreate a viable state. Fears that the failed state was becoming captive to radical Islamist interests had grown. However, international efforts lacked coherence and focus. Engagement with the security sector, in particular, was fraught with problems as a contested transitional government sought international help to establish security against its foes. The new UN Special Representative sought to create international alignment on a principled approach to recreating the security sector and strengthening the political transition process in the country.
Approach
Four international partners asked Jan Consulting to lead the technical work to develop a common international approach to security sector engagement in the country. We recognised at the outset that the process of alignment was as important as the content of a security strategy. Focusing on creating impact, we:
- Formed a project team that included all the four international partners’ representatives to ensure alignment from the start of the process
- Conducted an initial workshop with wider international representatives who were not in the project team to signal our approach and outline an agreed process to share findings
- Developed a first draft of a security sector assistance strategy that started with internationally accepted guidelines for security system reform and applied them to the complex realities of this failed state
- Highlighted short-term priorities (which were top of mind for all international partners) that were aligned with, and not counter to, longer-term objectives
- Created alignment within the project team and wider international partners on sequencing activities, integrated programming, and dynamic planning
- Demonstrated how similar approaches had worked in other conflict-affected states
Recommendations
The report specifically identified how international partners should engage at the local, national and regional levels to improve delivery of security and justice services, consistent with democratic norms and human rights principles, in the country. We provided guidance on approaching the transitional institutions, regional and local authorities, and international peace support operations, through a multi-sectoral approach including governance and oversight mechanisms, judicial, police and penal systems, and other elements of the security sector. With a focus on implementation, we developed a dynamic planning mechanism for international partners that enabled adaptability in a rapidly changing situation.
Results
The recommendations of this work were used by the four international partners, led by the UN, to engage the wider set of international actors on security and political engagement. The impact of this work is still in progress.
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