Programmes

Back

Libya

In the wake of Libya’s revolution, the Libyan authorities sought DCAF’s support for reforming the country’s justice and security sector institutions.

For more information on our programme, download our Country Strategy

A Libyan military band member takes part in the Independence Day ceremony in Martyrs square during the 69th Independence Day celebrations. Photo: Nada Harib for DCAF, Tripoli, Libya, 2021

Workstreams/Projects

Currently, DCAF articulates its support to Libyan institutions and stakeholders through a five-legged approach, based on its regional Theory of Change under the Trust Fund for North Africa.

The current situation in Libya requires a concerted and focused action among all international organizations involved. Under the leadership of the UN, the EU and other key multilateral agencies, international community actors need to support the establishment of more favourable conditions for the de-escalation of hostilities and the effective conduct of democratic elections.

At the same time, existing and partly functional security sector institutions need to be assisted in strengthening their internal capacities, transparency and effectiveness. Access to reliable and unbiased information, as well as the provision of technical and regulatory assistance, should be part of the IC’s programming, contributing to more favourable conditions for the resumption of inclusive political dialogue, while paving the way for reform.

DCAF’s work focuses on providing advice and technical assistance to the leading multilateral organizations operating in Libya on SSG/R strategies, policies and needs, as well as innovative approaches to implement SSR/G in conflict-afflicted environments. DCAF also supports Libyan functioning authorities and security institutions, most notably the Ministries of Interior and Defence, in leveraging their strategic planning, while strengthening their capacities, transparency and effectiveness.

Simultaneously, DCAF works with key Libyan municipalities to strengthen community-level oversight efforts in the broader context of ceasefire and interim security arrangements. In support of these engagements, DCAF supports free access to reliable information, through Marsad Libya and access to Libya’s security sector legislation.

DCAF aims to support Libya’s stabilization by virtue of exploring and applying SSR/G solutions to enable progress towards agreements to plan for SSR in Libya. Since 2020, DCAF has published a number of knowledge products showcasing technical knowledge drawn from operational engagements around the theme of hybridity in conflict environments in the continuum between SSR and DDR. These products include:

2020
- Exploring Armed Groups in Libya: Perspectives on Security Sector Reform in a Hybrid Environment
  - Launch event
- Conflicts, Pandemics and Peacebuilding: New Perspectives on SSR in the MENA region
  - Rome MED 2020 Panel
2021
- Libya: Ten Years of Compounding Security Sector Hybridity (externally published by ISPI)
- Conference Report: Exploring the Implications of Oil and Gas Infrastructure Security in Libya
  - Webinar
- Reforming Hybrid Security Forces in Arab States (externally published by Tawazun)
- Lessons from Post-2011 Trajectories in Tunisia and Libya (externally published by ISPI)
- The Road to Stability: Rethinking SSR in Post-Conflict Libya
  - Launch event
- Institutionalised (In)Security: Exploring the MENA Region’s Governance Crises
  - Rome MED 2021 Panel
2022
- Building security: How Europeans can help reform Libya (externally published by ECFR)
- Sovereignty, Responsibility and Reform: Navigating the Complexities of Hybrid Security Orders
- DCAF-ISPI
  - Security sectors in the MENA: the economics of governance in crisis (externally published by ISPI)
  - Armed Groups No Longer: Libya’s Competitive Political Militias (externally published by ISPI)

DCAF puts a programmatic emphasis on processes of pre-SSR and conflict SSR, notably by engaging with the Ministries of Interior and Defence to support the restructuring of their institutional setup, building related capacities and laying the foundations for longer-term SSR engagements.
Activities:

DCAF supports the Humanitarian Affairs Permanent Committee of the Libyan army (Ministry of Defence) towards the creation of a body of Legal Advisors to be deployed across the chain of command of the Libyan army.
DCAF supports the Criminal Investigations Department (Ministry of Interior) in implementing best practices in evidence collection, analysis and transmission techniques. Support is provided in matters of adherence to best practices in three main aspects: home searches, witness protection, and intelligence gathering from confidential informants.

In partnership with other international organisations and local civil society organisations, DCAF supports key Libyan municipalities’ governance capabilities through consultations, trainings, and the development of locally owned initiatives, in particular in the areas of civilian oversight and community safety.

DCAF is actively supporting local level initiatives in Tripoli and Misrata in the development of long-term proposals for implementation of community policing initiatives within their municipalities. This notably includes the delivery of remote advisory support, both technical and programme management related, on the proposals being developed. In parallel, DCAF is also supporting the creation of a platform for dialogue between local security authorities and community leaders in Yefren through a local civil society organization, Close Horizons for Training and Rehabilitation.

In a context characterized by intense propaganda and misinformation, with potentially very destructive effects on the Libyan social fabric, DCAF provides capacity building support, as well as reliable platforms through which users can access vital information on Libya’s security sector.
Activities:

Since 2013 and 2014 respectively, DCAF has been operating the “Marsad Libya” and “Libya Security Sector Legislation” platforms – as well as its sub-thematic Migration Infographic and Criminal Justice System website as a way to support to transparency through free access to reliable information.
To contribute to debunking propaganda and to the de-escalation of narratives, DCAF provides support to Libyan journalists and spokespersons in the form of dialogue forums to increase coordination and mutual understanding.

Considering that peace and stability is key for the launching of any reform processes, DCAF regularly designs and implements projects developed in cooperation with multilateral actors. In practice, this entails:

Supporting the UN-led processes in Libya, by facilitating and enabling well-informed dialogues on security arrangements, concerns, needs and future security governance visions, as part of ongoing peace building efforts.
Supporting the MED Dialogues initiative, in cooperation with the Italian MFA and Italian think tank ISPI, which connects high-level government officials, think tanks and academics to promote security and dialogue across the MENA region.

Past Activities: In 2019, DCAF worked in partnership with EUBAM to support the Libyan Judicial Police (LJP)’s Training Department, and supported the development of a long-term training strategy for new recruits and internal structural review.