PKSOI Lessons Learned Report January 2019 | Page 13

Recommendations:
When designing programs for police reform (security sector reform), consider focusing on
“locally-driven police reform” – based on the experiences, needs, and motivations of the
men and women serving in the local police. Understand context, and gain/incorporate local
insights for:
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Improving working conditions (uniforms, equipment, supplies, etc.)
Addressing living conditions (i.e., adequate support for basic living essentials)
Investing in training, coaching, and mentoring
Strengthening police-community relations
Assessing and attending to societal practices, pressures, etc. that impact police
work – working “by, with, and through” local stakeholders
Sources:
1. Primary reference: “Putting Everyday Life at the Centre of Reform in Bukavu,” by
Michel Thill, Robert Njangala and Josaphat Musamba, Rift Valley Institute, March 2018.
Note: This lesson does not intend to take credit from, copy, remix, or change the authors’
article in any way whatsoever. Rather, it serves to highlight just a few of the many excellent
points raised by those authors – potentially for reform planners to take into consideration.
2. Other references:
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“Evaluation: Security Sector Accountability and Police Reform Programme,”
Department for International Development, UK, 27 October 2016
“Community Based Strategies for Peace and Security (CBSPS),” by Lawrence
Mitchell, Peace Operations Training Institute (POTI), April 2008
Mambassa, DRC – 24 Aug 2013. Local women attend the
inauguration ceremony for a newly built police station.
(Photo credit: UN / Sylvain Liechti)
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