Trust Fund for North Africa
In response to heightened interest in and demand for expertise in security sector governance and reform, the DCAF Trust Fund for North Africa (TFNA) is established to support security sector governance development goals, within a context of democratic transition, in countries of North Africa.
Combining speed, flexibility and efficiency, the TFNA is prepared to respond to requests for assistance from Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia in the fields of Effective Oversight, Adequate Legal and Policy Framework and Responsive Security.
The current TFNA members are France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The TFNA funds all DCAF activities in North Africa.
About the Trust Fund
In 2011, an outburst of Arab popular discontent placed the various national security organizations and their practices in the spotlight. Ever since, reform of the police, security forces, the defence forces and the intelligence organizations has become key to ensuring the success of democratic transition. Several countries in North Africa realize that restoring public trust in the state requires restoring trust in the state institutions which have the responsibility to protect the citizens. Some countries in the region realize that making security and justice organizations more transparent, accountable, and respectful of human dignity helps reduce popular grievances and hence violence and extremism.
In response to these developments, a group of DCAF member states established in 2012 the Trust Fund for Security Sector Development Assistance in North Africa (now the Trust Fund for North Africa - TFNA). The purpose of the TFNA is to assist legal and institutional development in the justice- and security sectors in countries of North Africa.
Combining speed, flexibility and efficiency, the TFNA is prepared to respond to requests for assistance from Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The current TFNA members are France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
In the first weeks following the Tunisian Revolution, the Geneva Center for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) offered its expertise to the transitional government. Since February 2011, DCAF has been reinforcing its cooperation with the Tunisian government through concluding agreements and developing assistance programmes with several ministries (Interior, Justice and Defence). In July 2011, Tunisia joined the DCAF Foundation Council and became its 60th member state. In order to facilitate the implementation of its cooperation programme, DCAF opened an office in Tunis in October 2011. This office has been part of the Trust Fund programme since June 2012. The objective of the TFNA’s programme in Tunisia is to assist the authorities in establishing good governance of armed forces, police and security forces which are to:
- Operate under clear policy and legal frameworks;
- Deliver efficient services in a transparent manner, in line with the security needs of citizens;
- Adhere to the principle of rule of law, and whose individual members are fully accountable for their actions;
- Are properly managed and overseen by the executive, legislative and judicial authorities;
- Are subject to informal oversight by the media and civil society.
Learn more about DCAF Tunisia Programme
Project Websites
The Trust Fund for North Africa has been active in Libya since 2012. In the wake of Libya’s revolution, the Libyan authorities sought DCAF’s support for reforming the country’s justice and security sector institutions. As a neutral and independent actor, the TFNA aims to support Libyan stakeholders in enhancing good security sector governance. The TFNA and its programmes contribute to the development of effective, efficient and transparent security and justice providers.
By making a contribution to improving good governance in the area of security, the TFNA supports Libya’s democratic transition and helps to advance peace and stability in the region. Currently, DCAF articulates its support to Libyan institutions and stakeholders through a five-legged approach: contributing to SSR and DDR doctrine-development and policy design, supporting multilateral actors and UN-led processes in Libya, supporting Libyan Ministries in their capacity development, facilitating access to reliable information and supporting the development of independent oversight at local level.
Learn more about DCAF Libya Programme
Project Websites
In 2011, Morocco adopted a new Constitution enshrining the Kingdom’s commitment in favour of the rule of law and human rights, and proposing a new governance model, grounded on independent oversight institutions, promotion of human rights, good governance and human development.
Justice Reform and security sector governance have been a priority for consolidating democracy. Reforms have been undertaken to strengthen the accountability, transparency, and efficiency of the security sector. Citizen’s trust in legitimate and effective institutions, in respect of the rule of law, promoting the prevention of ill-treatment, integrity and accountability represent other national policy priorities.
DCAF’s program in Morocco is engaged with government institutions, oversight authorities and human rights protection bodies to support the Moroccan authorities in the implementation of security and justice sector reform.
Learn more about DCAF Morocco Programme
Project Websites
- coming soon
The January 2011 revolution in Egypt opened a dialogue on the country’s democratisation. After the 2011 revolution and President Morsi’s ouster in July 2013, the Egyptian army continues to play an important role in the political, social and economic spheres. Since the 2011 revolution, a debate has emerged within Egyptian society on civil-military relations and their influence on Egypt’s democratic transition. Against this background, the TFNA aims to contribute to an open, informed and constructive debate on civil-military relations in Egypt among key stakeholders and the general public.
Project Websites
- Switzerland: The Swiss Confederation has supported the TFNA General Window since 2012, while lending specific support to projects in Tunisia between 2017 and 2019.
- The Netherlands: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands has supported the TFNA since 2013. Initially, it lended support to projects in Tunisia until 2017, after which it opened to the general window.
- Germany: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany has supported the TFNA General Window since 2015.
- France: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of France has supported TFNA projects in Morocco and Tunisia since 2018.
- Luxembourg: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of Luxembourg has supported TFNA projects in Tunisia since 2012.
PUBLICATIONS
Contacts
Ayman Ayoub, Head of Middle East and North Africa Division, (a.ayoub@dcaf.ch)