Developing integrated approaches to post-conflict security and recovery

Supported by the United Nations and international partners after the signing of the ‘Comprehensive Peace Agreement’ in January 2005, the initial Sudan disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) programme used new principles for integrated approaches to programme design, management and implementation. Despite drawing upon the latest in international best practice, the DDR programme in Sudan experienced significant challenges during its first two years of implementation.

Covering the period of 2005 until the end of 2007, with a particular focus on Southern Sudan, this paper examines the design and implementation of the initial phase of DDR in Sudan with the goal of interrogating new integrated approaches to DDR and post-conflict security building. Further, it aims to draw lessons that highlight the significant programmatic, institutional, contextual and operational challenges of putting integrated approaches into practice in a complex post-conflict environment.

Offered as a constructive contribution to policy dialogue in Sudan and elsewhere, the paper concludes by making recommendations for contributing to improved post-conflict interventions that meet the diverging security needs of societies recovering from violent conflict.