Introduction to security

sector reform
SYLLABUS
Course goal and outline
The main goal of this module is to offer an overview of the concept of Security Sector Reform (SSR),
highlight the key SSR actors and their roles and outline the implementation of SSR programmes. This
module is structured into four complementary lessons:

 Lesson 1: Introduction to the Concept of Security Sector Reform

To complete the course, you should take the lessons and successfully complete the final assessment. In
the table that follows, you have an outline of the contents and learning objectives for each lesson.

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Content and learning objectives
Lesson Content Learning Objectives
Introduction to Lesson one discusses the changing nature  Define the notion of security, security
the concept of of our understanding of security and how sector and security sector reform;
security sector best to meet the security needs of the  Describe the approach, objectives and
reform people. It breaks down the term „Security dimensions of SSR.
Sector Reform‟, to what is security, what is
the security sector and what therefore is
security sector reform. This lesson helps you
understand the purpose of SSR and its key
objectives and it focuses on key approaches
and dimensions that should be adopted
when engaging in security and justice reform
processes.

Understanding Lesson two focuses on the context within  Describe post-conflict context and the
the SSR context which SSR is carried out. It outlines the main SSR challenges;
political, economical and social factors that  Discuss gender perspectives in a SSR
have an impact on the planning and context.
implementation of SSR. The lesson also
discusses gender, within the context of
integrating the various stakeholders in the
SSR process, and the need to recognize
that different sections of society may
experience security and insecurity in
different ways.
Key actors and Lesson three focuses on the key actors and  Identify key actors involved – at
coordination of institutions involved in SSR, both at the different levels – in SSR processes;
SSR processes national level (implementing/ undergoing  Discuss coordination mechanisms for
SSR) and the international level (supporting support to SSR processes.
SSR). Given the large number of actors
involved, their different institutional cultures
and approaches, coordination is vital. This
section will also deal with the issue of
coordination and identify various obstacles
to coordination.
International Lesson four focuses on international support  Define the programme cycle;
support to an to an SSR process. More often than not  Identify entry points and discuss how to
SSR process international support is through specific plan for entry points in a SSR process;
programmes or projects. As such this lesson  List specific tools and approaches that
will be based on the SSR programme cycle, are often used in international support
and in particular on how the three essential to SSR processes.
dimensions of SSR mentioned in Lesson 1
(its political nature, its technical complexity
and the need for an holistic approach)
require special attention throughout all
stages of security and justice reform
programmes.

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Course design
The course has the following components:

 Lesson – It is the core mandatory learning component.

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Learning material
The lessons are the core learning components in the course. They guide you so as to achieve the
course‟s learning objectives. Supporting materials, such as additional resources and glossaries are also
available to assist your learning process.

Lessons are the core mandatory learning component and focus on key points. They will help you to
prepare and pass the final assessment at the end of the course.

All lessons in the course are flash-based. Each lesson may have an average of between 20 to 30 slides.
The estimated time for each lesson is 30 minutes. The lessons are available in pdf version in the
“Resources” area.

Every lesson has a discussion forum called Ask & Talk, which acts as a support center where you can
direct queries about course content, voice doubts on how to go about something or simply share
ideas/experiences.

For general information on using the discussion forums, refer to the User Guide.

Note on conditions for utilization of discussion boards

(1) While accessing mailing lists, discussion boards, or other messages or communication facilities (collectively,
“Forums”), participants agree to use the Forums only to send and receive messages and materials that are
proper and related to the particular Forum. By way of example and not as a limitation, participants agree that
when using the Forums, he or she shall not do any of the following:

a. Defame, discriminate, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten or otherwise violate the legal rights (such as
rights of privacy and publicity) of others;
b. Publish, post, distribute or disseminate any defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent or unlawful
material or information;
c. Upload or attach files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws
(or by rights of privacy and publicity) unless the User owns or controls the rights thereto or has
received all consents thereto as may be required by law;
d. Upload or attach files that contain viruses, corrupted files or any other similar software or programs
that may damage the operation of another‟s computer;
e. Delete any author attributions, legal notices or proprietary designations or labels in any file that is
uploaded;
f. Falsify the origin or source of software or other material contained in a file that is uploaded;
g. Advertise or offer to sell any goods or services, or conduct or forward surveys, contests or chain
letters, or download any file posted by another user of a Forum that the User knows, or should
reasonably know, cannot be legally distributed in such manner.

(2) Participants acknowledge that all Forums and discussion groups are public and not private communications.
Furthermore, Users acknowledge that chats, postings, conferences, e-mails and other communications
made by other Users are not endorsed by UNITAR or the United Nations, and that such communications
shall not be considered to have been reviewed, screened or approved by UNITAR or the United Nations.

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Supporting material
Besides the learning material described above, you will have at your disposal a cybrary and two
glossaries.

Cybrary

The Cybrary (cyber library) contains many additional resources that help you deepen your knowledge on
one or more of the topics covered in the course. Documents from the Cybrary can be read online or
saved onto your hard disk.

Glossaries

You can access two glossaries: the Glossary of terms and the Glossary of acronyms. The Glossary of
terms provides definitions of relevant course-related terms. The Glossary of acronyms details the
meaning of the acronyms mentioned throughout the course.

Disclaimer Note

The Learning Materials available on this course may contain links and references to third-party web sites. The linked
web sites are not under the control of UNITAR or the United Nations. Neither UNITAR nor the United Nations are
responsible for the content of any linked web site or any link contained in a linked web site. UNITAR provides these
links only as a convenience, and the inclusion of a link or reference does not imply the endorsement of the linked web
site by UNITAR or the United Nations.

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Study plan
The course has been designed in a way to give you flexibility to plan your learning progress. The lessons,
videos and additional resources of all modules can be accessed throughout the course.

Technical requirements
Minimum hardware and software requirements:
 Platform: Windows 95, 98, 2000, NT, ME, XP or superior; MacOS 9 or MacOS X.
 Hardware: 64 MB of RAM, 1 GB of free disk space.
 Software:
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
(download for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html).
• Adobe Flash Player (download for free at http:/get.adobe.com/flashplayer)
• Microsoft Office (Windows or Apple version) or Open Office
(download for free at http://www.openoffice.org )
 Browser: Internet Explorer 8
(download for free at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internetexplorer/worldwide-sites.aspx);
works better with Firefox 3.6 or higher (download for free at http://www.mozilla-
europe.org/en/firefox). Note JavaScript & Cookies must be enabled.
 Modem: 56 K