Parliaments play a crucial role in ensuring that security policies and security practices are transparent and accountable to the wider population. DCAF conducts a variety of activities to develop the capacity of parliaments to play an effective role in the oversight and governance of the security sector. DCAF’s parliamentary programmes encompass two main platforms: developing the skills of parliamentarians and staffers to engage on defence, intelligence and law enforcement oversight issues; and developing knowledge products that parliaments and parliamentarians can refer to when performing their oversight roles.

In 2003, DCAF published an important reference work for parliamentarians on security sector oversight issues, the DCAF-IPU Handbook on Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector. Since publication, the Handbook has been translated into nearly forty languages. This Handbook is used as a central text in all of DCAF’s capacity development activities with democratic institutions and with civil society.

Since 2001, DCAF has cooperated extensively with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) on issues related to parliamentary oversight of the security sector in NATO and Partnership for Peace (PfP) nations. Cooperation has focused on several platforms including inputs to and support for various Rose-Roth seminars held in PfP nations, professional development events for New Parliamentarians from PfP nations, joint conferences in Brussels on topical security governance issues, the development of joint-knowledge products, and the participation of NATO-PA staff as resource persons and keynote speakers at DCAF events.

Since 2002, DCAF has supported capacity building programming on security sector oversight for the Ukrainan parliament (the Verkhovna Rada). Facilitated by and focused on the Verkhovna Rada’s Defence and Security Committee, DCAF has provided expert input and funding for an array of workshops, conferences and knowledge products aimed at addressing oversight needs prioritised by the Defence and Security Committee and other Ukrainian stakeholders.

Since 2004, the Parliamentary Staff Advisers' Programme in Southeast Europe has helped parliaments establish defence and security adviser positions within their staff structures and provides relevant training to their staff; and helped to strengthen links between parliaments in Southeast Europe, stimulating the exchange of experience and information in the field of defence and security, and contributing to the harmonisation of security sector governance practices across Southeast Europe.

Since 2007, DCAF has supported capacity development initiatives on security sector oversight issues with the Parliament of Indonesia via partnerships with local stakeholders. Between 2008 and 2010, a programme of dedicated capacity development workshops for parliamentary staffers was held across Indonesia.

Finally, DCAF’s parliamentary programme in West Africa is undertaken with the intention of informing, advising and cooperating on security sector issues with the parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as well as with national parliaments.