National ownership is the foundation of  DDR processes in order to successfully implement peacebuilding and peacekeeping goals. For this reason, the United Nations promotes participatory approaches, extensive consultations and evidence-based programming, aimed at ensuring DDR processes are conflict-sensitive and context specific.

 Why is national ownership considered essential in DDR processes?  

National ownership in DDR refers to the involvement and leadership of national, provincial, and local actors in all aspects of DDR processes. It means that DDR processes are aligned with national approaches to conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and recovery, and involve a wide range of state and non-state actors, ensuring buy-in from all levels of domestic actors. National ownership is essential because it secures the long-term impacts of DDR, particularly the political, social, and economic reintegration of ex-combatants. Without national ownership, DDR processes cannot be implemented in a sustainable and legitimate manner.

It also involves the leadership and responsibility of national actors in designing, implementing, and overseeing DDR programs. This includes ensuring that DDR strategies are aligned with national peacebuilding and conflict recovery frameworks, coordinating efforts across government ministries, and maintaining coherence between national policies and international support. National ownership fosters a comprehensive, country-wide approach that integrates DDR with other peacebuilding efforts, such as security sector reform and economic recovery.

What are the key principles that support effective national ownership of DDR processes?

To ensure that DDR processes are truly led by national institutions, and other national actors including at community levels, and benefit from local support, several key principles need to be in place. These principles help make national ownership both effective and sustainable, ensuring long-term peace and stability.

How does local ownership, including the involvement of local authorities, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and communities, enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of DDR processes?

Local ownership focuses on engaging local authorities, civil society organizations (CSOs), and communities at the grassroots level. It emphasizes the need for DDR processes to be context-sensitive, responsive to local needs, and aligned with the specific dynamics of individual communities. Local ownership ensures that DDR programmes are conflict-sensitive and flexible, addressing the realities of local actors and tailoring the approach to local conditions. By involving communities in the decision-making and implementation of DDR, it helps build trust, enhance legitimacy, and increase the sustainability of DDR outcomes. This combination of national and local ownership is essential for the long-term success of DDR.

In Mozambique, faith-based organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) have contributed to a nationwide DDR program. The Christian Council of Mozambique (CCM) was an integral part of the peace process and the collection and destruction of small arms and light weapons. Former child soldiers also advocated for community participation in peace building and security processes. In the Lake Chad Basin, local ownership strategy was implemented in the region in 2018, empowering local actors to lead stabilization efforts themselves. The Governors’ Forum provides a unique and innovative platform to solve local problems. Partnerships with local civil society organizations provide another opportunity to establish local ownership.

What is the role of the UN in the promotion of national ownership?

The UN promotes a broader understanding of national ownership that is not only focused on central government leadership but involves a wide range of state and non-state actors at national, provincial, and local levels in all stages of DDR processes. At the request of governments, the UN fosters genuine, effective, and broad national ownership by providing institutional capacity-building and supporting national authorities and local actors during the design, implementation, and assessment of DDR processes.

In contexts where state structures are weak, the UN assists national authorities in progressively assuming full responsibility for DDR processes. This includes offering technical assistance and helping to establish legal frameworks, while ensuring that national institutions are supported in leading DDR efforts in a sustainable manner. The UN also supports regional and subregional organizations in harmonizing efforts and fostering regional approaches, recognizing that cross-border dynamics and regional security frameworks are crucial for the success of national DDR initiatives.

CVR constitutes a flexible approach that directly responds to the presence of active and/ or former member of armed groups, while also adressing local needs. By engaging community members. CVR contributes towards preventing or reducing violence at the community level during ongoing armed conflicts or in post-conflict situations. When conditions are not conducive to a DDR program, CVR can help stabilize and build trust, paving the way for a comprehensive peace agreement and the initiation of DDR. Developed as part of “second-generation DDR,” CVR addresses the challenges posed by non-state armed groups, which are often involved in shadow economies and transnational criminal networks, making them difficult to distinguish from local communities 

CVR works directly with communities to find internal solutions to the root causes of armed violence, and can also prevent recruitment, promote disengagement from violence, and reduce community-level violence, including organized crime and gender-based violence. CVR projects also build community resilience and increase local capacitiesto absorb former members. For instance, short-term employment combined with vocational training also provides incentives for individuals to leave such groups. 

CVR is always implemented locally, with full participation and consultation of community stakeholders, including women, youth and children. 

The conflict in the Central African Republic (CAR) is characterized by multiple  recruitment drives and ever-growing number of non-state armed groups. Following the 2013 escalation of the conflict, the United Nations Multidiemensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) was established by Resolution 2149 (2014).

In addition, Resolution 2448 (2018) mandated the mission to the design and implementation of CVR projects in support and in collaboration with national authorities. These programmes are to be designed with a gender-sensitive approach and target members of armed groups who are not eligible to participate in the national DDRR programme.

All CVR projects in CAR are grounded in the principle of national ownership and are implemented with the participationof local actors, including thrugh local CVR project committees and local peace and reconciliation committees (CLPRs). These local structures ensure broad participationand play an essential role in the planning and execution of project activities. Their tasks include identifying beneficiaries, conducting awareness-raising activities, creating economic opportunities, and monitoring the projects.

CVR projects in CAR made significant achievements. These include supporting beneficiaries in establishing income-generating activities such as agricultural projects in Bouar, a transport project in Kaga Bandoro, sewing projects in Bangassou and a bakery project in Bria. In addition, women’s centers have been established in Bangassou and health centers in Koundé and Bawi. Sensitization of beneficiaries and communities focuses on issues such as peaceful coexistence, strengthening social cohesion and preventing and addressing the impacts of rumors. This approach aims to build trust, foster harmony, and mitigate tensions within communities by creating awareness and facilitating dialogue on these key issues.

National ownership plays a central role in the success and sustainability of Disarmament, Demobilisation, and Reintegration (DDR) processes. However, a fundamental debate is needed on what “national ownership” means for various stakeholders in DDR processes, what the implications of these different understandings are, and how a new perspective can effectively change action in the future.

The Paris Declaration of ‘Aid effectiveness’ 2005 stipulates that “partner countries exercise effective leadership over their development policies, and strategies and co-ordinate development actions”. Countries committed to do so by 1) exercising leadership in developing and implementing their national development strategies; 2) translating these national development strategies into prioritised results-oriented operational programmes; and 3) taking the lead in co-ordinating aid at all levels in conjunction with other development resources in dialogue with donors and encouraging the participation of civil society and the private sector

While the Paris Declaration focused on development aid, many elements mentioned apply to DDR processes that are externally funded and managed – a core challenge for national ownership of these processes. DDR processes are increasingly taking place where the preconditions for a DDR programme do not exist. Still rattled by the impact of armed conflict, it is often unclear who within the ruling structures of the country is responsible for the implementation of DDR. Given the financial incentives DDR pogrammes and processes entail, line ministries compete for leadership, often obstructing and delaying the planning and implementation of DDR. Even where national institutions responsible for DDR exist, they often lack political leverage and support from higher levels and get sidelined by political interests linked to the political nature of DDR in reconfiguring power within a state after armed conflict. Therefore, central components of DDR processes, including 1) strategic considerations; 2) financial contribution and management; 3) coordination and leadership; 4) implementation; and 5) monitoring of DDR processes remain largely externally driven and owned. DDR programme implementation documents often refer to “buy-in” by national counterparts, implying externally developed strategies and concepts to be adopted, and ultimately owned by national counterparts. “Buy-in” has shown little impact and potential for sustainability, even less for national ownership. Hence, DDR processes and programmes remain conceptualised, implemented, and reviewed by external stakeholders. Strategies are often written by external consultants, UN mission components on DDR (DDR sections) are led by international staff, including former (Western) military personnel, while local perspectives are not leading these international endeavors. 

The revised Integrated DDR standards offer opportunities for change by introducing DDR-related tools. Community Violence Reduction (CVR) programmes claim to be a bottom-up tool that centrally involves communities in designing and implementing activities to reduce violence at the local level. Local committees comprised of various parts of communities, including religious leaders, local authorities, youth and women groups, jointly decide what is needed to enhance social cohesion in their communities. However, as the core structures and ways of working of international development cooperation have not structurally changed, internationals still make the final decisions on program selection and manage the funding structures and implementation.

What is needed is a fundamental change of perspective that considers decolonial perspectives. Proposals on decolonizing aid offer new ways of understanding and integrating local expertise into project design and implementation (Peace Direct et al. 2021; bicc, 2024). These perspectives also distinguish between ‘local’ and ‘national’ ownership as distinct concepts. As outlined above, government involvement and state-centric approaches pose fundamental challenges, particularly in conflict or post-conflict settings. In these contexts, governmental interests often do not align with those of citizens or, in the worst case, run counter to their interests and needs. Decentral forms of working to enhance local ownership are therefore essential. Civil society organisations have evolved and represent important partners for DDR- related initiatives. They represent entry points for decentralised work. However, to make this work effective funding streams and programme management must be adapted. Donor requirements must be renegotiated, programme setups, leadership, and implementation modalities must be reconfigured. This will bring about bottom-up initiatives – not just on paper -, that are locally owned with the potential to last on for many years and yield the desired impact.

DDR Symposium 2024

More and more people around the world are living in a situation of insecurity as a result of the increasing number of people affected by conflicts and the growing number of deaths. Peace can only be consolidated if former members of armed forces and armed groups are given the opportunity to return to civilian life and reintegrate into their communities. International collective action is also needed to address the challenges and consequences of war.

That is why the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Sectionin the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) and the Crisis Burueau Team in the United Nations Development, with the support of Switzerland, organized the fourth annual DDR Symposium in Geneva from 3 to 7 June. The event brought together 80 DDR experts from around the world. At the same time, the Symposium marked a milestone, taking place 20 years after the first United Nations meeting to formulate the DDR approach to peacekeeping and the establishment of the United Nations Inter-Agency Working Group on DDR.

The theme of this year’s symposium was “DDR’s Role in Conflict Prevention and Sustaining Peace”.

The connection between DDR and the UN Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace (NAP), particularly regarding gender dynamics, weapon-related harm reduction, and strengthening peace operations, was a key focus. Participants discussed priorities such as community reintegration, climate change’s impact on mental health, and armed group transformation. A major outcome was the creation of a DDR pledge supporting the New Peace Agenda, centered on three themes: DDR’s role in policy, prevention, and the need for innovative partnerships and financing for peace efforts.

The symposium underscored the importance of collective action within the DDR community and its ability to advance DDR efforts at various levels, particularly following the review of the Integrated DDR Standards (IDDRS).

DDR Pledge

One of the most significant outcomes of the symposium was the formulation of the DDR Pledge, a collective commitment by the global DDR community to operationalize the New Agenda for Peace.  The pledge recognizes DDR’s essential role in adressing today’s complex conflict environments, where armed groups proliferate, criminal activities increase, and violence escalates. 

The DDR Pledge focuses on three key areas: the Primacy of Politics, ensuring that DDRsupports broader political strategies and peace agreements; the Shift of Prevention, incorporating DDR into national and regional conflict prevention strategies; and Partnerships and Financing for Peace, which emphasizes the need for innovative financing models and stronger partnerships to sustain DDR efforts .

By aligning with the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, the DDR Pledge serves as a roadmap for future DDR engagements, emphasizing the importance of political solutions, conflict prevention, and collaborative approaches to peacebuilding. With this pledge, the DDR community stands ready to adress the human cost of weapon, contribute to sustainable peace, and support the protection of civilians, particulary through enhanced weapons and ammunition management.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Group of Friends of DDR, a platform that has brought together 16 member states since its first meeting on May 21, 2019. The group includes countries from different regions, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Their shared goal is to promote the role of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) in maintaining peace and security, especially in complex conflict environments.

Over the past five years, the Group of Friends has convened expert-level meetings on a range of important topics. In 2020, they discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on DDR and Community Violence Reduction (CVR) activities. Despite the global health crisis, DDR teams in the field adapted quickly, ensuring that programs continued to support peace efforts while helping communities respond to the pandemic. Another key topic in 2020 was DDR in settings where armed groups are designated as terrorist organizations, exploring the unique challenges this presents in countries like Mali and Somalia. In 2021, the focus shifted to DDR processes in countries such as the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali. The group heard from senior UN officials about the political and security situations in these countries and the role of DDR in reducing violence and supporting peace. Additionally, the group addressed the growing complexity of conflicts, with discussions in 2022 examining how armed groups are evolving, especially in regions like Cameroon and the Lake Chad Basin, where regional cooperation has become essential. In 2023, the Group of Friends held a meeting alongside the Annual DDR Symposium, discussing the evolving role of DDR and Community Violence Reduction (CVR) in addressing conflicts and contributing to long-term peacebuilding.

Throughout these discussions, the Group of Friends of DDR has demonstrated its commitment to adapting DDR approaches to new realities. From addressing the links between health and peace to navigating the challenges posed by terrorist organizations, the group has provided valuable insights and coordination. As they look ahead, the Group of Friends will continue to support efforts to build more peaceful and stable societies through innovative DDR practices.

In 2024, Group of Friends of DDR convened an expert level meeting with the objective of identifying and analysing the lessons learned from MINUSMA’s support to Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) process in Mali, in the context of the mission’s closure. The meeting, which marked the Group’s fifth anniversary, provided an opportunity to reflect on MINUSMA’s decade-long efforts in Mali and hear from the Permament Representive of Mali and the President of the National DDR Commission the Malian Vision for future of DDR in their country. Discussions centered on capturing key lessons from MINUSMA’s involvement in DDR and Community Violence Reduction (CVR) efforts, as well as highlightin the progress and challenges of the national DDR process.

The Malian government’s delegates stressed throughout the discussion how crucial national ownership is to the DDR process. They emphasized the necessity of fortifying and restructuring the National DDR Commission after the inter-Malian discourse is concluded. Following MINUSMA’s withdrawal, the Malian government is now entirely in charge of directing the DDR process, with an emphasis on combatant disarmament and integration into the national forces in addition to tackling the security threats posed by armed groups that are not signatories.

Participants talked about the DDR’s wider regional ramifications in Mali, especially in the Sahel, where combating the spread of armed groups and weapons requires cross-border cooperation. The success of the national DDR strategy is contingent upon the maintenance of robust cooperation with global actors, such as the United Nations, as was also emphasized during the meeting. Developing closer cooperation between Mali and its neighbors as well as making sure there is enough financial and technical support to keep the DDR process going were two important proposals.

The primary goal of the Group of Friends of DDR will continue to be assisting Mali in its endeavors to establish enduring peace and stability. Future DDR procedures in Mali and other areas with comparable problems will benefit greatly from the knowledge gained from MINUSMA’s involvement. The development of a robust and indigenously owned DDR plan for Mali will be greatly aided by the Group of Friends’ ongoing participation, in conjunction with regional and global partners.

MEAC:

Banditry Violence in Nigeria’s North West

The study looks at how bandit groups victimize people, how they appear in the real world, and how bandit violence affects people’s ability to make a living, get an education, and move about.The study is based on original survey research conducted by MEAC with impacted communities in the North West Nigerian states of Katsina, Zamfara, and Sokoto. It also examines how banditry fits into the larger picture of violence and war in Nigeria via the eyes of the impacted communities, taking into account disputes between farmers and herders as well as the insurgency of Boko Haram in the northeast of the nation. The goal of the report is to advance a more sophisticated comprehension of the phenomenon to assist practitioners and policymakers in determining the best course of action for enhancing regional security.