About Us
| What is DCAF? | What is DCAF’s budget? |
| How is DCAF governed? | Can I work for DCAF? |
| What does DCAF do? | DCAF By-laws |
| Where does DCAF work ? | DCAF Flyer |
| Who does DCAF work with? | Annual Reports |
DCAF is an international foundation established in 2000 on the initiative of the Swiss Confederation, as the 'Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces'. DCAF contributes to enhancing security sector governance (SSG) through security sector reform (SSR).
The Centre’s works to support effective, efficient security sectors which are accountable to the state and its citizens. DCAF's work is underpinned by the acknowledgement that security, development and the rule of law are essential preconditions for sustainable peace.
DCAF is guided by the principles of:
- neutrality
- impartiality
- gender sensitivity
- local ownership
DCAF is based in Geneva with permanent offices in Beirut, Brussels, Ljubljana and Ramallah. The Centre has over 100 staff from more than 30 countries.
La Maison de la Paix
In 2013, DCAF will have new headquarters with the inauguration of the Maison de la Paix . This project, supported by a mix of public and private contributions, will house the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies and the three Geneva centres supported by the Swiss Confederation: the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces , the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the Centre for Humanitarian Demining .
The DCAF Foundation currently comprises 61 Member States from across the globe. The Foundation Council – an assembly of all DCAF Member States – is DCAF’s supreme decision-making body.
The table below lists DCAF Member States alphabetically. The figure in brackets indicates the year each Member joined the DCAF Foundation:
| Albania (2000) | Argentina (2009) | Armenia (2002) |
| Austria (2000) | Azerbaijan (2002) | Belarus (2002) |
| Belgium (2004) | Bosnia and Herzegovina (2001) | Bulgaria (2000) |
| Burkina Faso (2009) | Burundi (2010) | Canada (2003) |
| Croatia (2001) | Cote d’Ivoire (2001) | Cyprus (2008) |
| Czech Republic (2000) | Denmark (2002) | Estonia (2000) |
| Finland (2000) | France (2000) | Geneva (Canton) (2000) |
| Georgia (2001) | Germany (2000) | Ghana (2011) |
| Greece (2002) | Hungary (2000) | Indonesia (2007) |
| Ireland (2000) | Italy (2001) | Kyrgyzstan (2011) |
| Latvia (2000) | Lebanon (2007) | Liechtenstein (2006) |
| Lithuania (2000) | Luxembourg (2003) | Macedonia (Republic of) (2000) |
| Mali (2011) | Malta (2008) | Moldova (2002) |
| Montenegro (2006) | Netherlands (2001) | Nigeria (2000) |
| Norway (2002) | Philippines (2011) | Poland (2000) |
| Portugal (2003) | Romania (2000) | Russian Federation (2000) |
| Senegal (2011) | Serbia (2001) | Slovak Republic (2000) |
| Slovenia (2001) | South Africa (2001) | Spain (2001) |
| Sweden (2001) | Switzerland (2000) | Tunisia (2011) |
| Turkey (2003) | Ukraine (2000) | United Kingdom (2000) |
| United States (2000) |
Cambodia, and Thailand have permanent observer status on the Foundation Council, as do the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie and the Inter-Parliamentary Union .
DCAF’s Foundation Council is presided over by Mr. Christophe Keckeis (Switzerland).
The Director of DCAF is appointed by the Council upon recommendation of the Swiss government.Since its establishment, DCAF has been under the direction of Ambassador Theodor Winkler .
DCAF’s by-laws can be found here .
DCAF combines conceptual , analytical and operational capabilities in order to support a holistic SSR agenda. The Centre develops and promotes appropriate norms and standards at national and international levels, conducts policy-relevant research, offers tailored policy guidance and provides advisory field support and in-country assistance programmes.
DCAF’s International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT) reinforces the capacity of the international community to support SSR processes, primarily in conflict-affected and fragile states.
DCAF's main fields of expertise are:
- parliamentary oversight
- police and border management
- defence reform
- intelligence governance
- privatisation of security
- gender and security
- human rights and the rule of law
- civil society capacity-building
DCAF’s core services in the field of SSR / SSG are:
- assessments
- programme design
- monitoring and evaluation
- tools and guidance development
- capacity-building and training
- knowledge services and publications
DCAF conducts activities in Africa , Asia and the Pacific , Eastern Europe and Central Asia , Latin America and the Caribbean , the Middle East and North Africa , and Southeast Europe . Comprehensive operational and policy research programmes are focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Northern Africa , the Newly Independent States and Southeast Europe .
DCAF partners include a wide range of governments, parliaments, international organisations, non-governmental and private actors.
DCAF applies a broad understanding of the security sector that incorporates core security actors, management and oversight bodies as well as private or informal security actors. The Centre places particular emphasis on supporting security sector governance institutions and actors. These include:
- executive authorities
- parliaments and interparliamentary bodies
- judicial authorities
- security sector actors (police , intelligence services , border guards etc.)
- ombudsman institutions
- media
- expert networks
- civil society organisations
DCAF works directly with:
- national SSR stakeholders in different national and regional settings.
- bilateral donors to support SSR and to promote coherence, coordination and complementarity in line with the whole-of-government / whole-of-institution and 3Cs agenda.
- multilateral institutions , in particular the United Nations , the European Union , the African Union , as well as other regional and sub-regional organisations – in enhancing their role in the SSR field.
- regional and global SSR-related expert networks
- partners to facilitate or otherwise support innovative multi-stakeholder processes in the field of security governance.
DCAF’s budget in 2010 reached 30.3 million Swiss francs.
The Swiss government contributes slightly over half of DCAF’s budget. The share of funding provided by other governments has been constantly growing. In 2010, DCAF received financial or other contributions - such as staff secondment - from 25 states and 5 international organisations.
The OECD recognises contributions to DCAF as Official Development Assistance, under DAC guidelines.
DAC guidelinesAll vacancies at DCAF (including ISSAT) are announced here .
DCAF encourages applications from well-qualified candidates from around the world.
The DCAF Flyer gives a short introduction to DCAF's mission, the organisation and thematic and regional programmes.
