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Navigating the choices of human resources reform within security sector reform contexts What have we learnt so far from HRM programming?

20 October, 2025

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Description

This stocktaking study on what can be learnt about Human Resources Management (HRM) reforms,  provides guidance for donors for future programming.

Reshaping the human element of security forces is helpful for ensuring sustainability in the fundamentals of improved oversight and improved effectiveness. 

Working on HRM reforms is emerging as a feasible step forward towards a more effective and efficient use of national resources for security sector governance. To that end, DCAF has carried out a stocktaking study, exploring HRM programming across different contexts.  

This synthesis report summarizes the key learning points about common challenges, trade-offs and choices facing policy officers, SSG/R practitioners as well as advisors working on HRM reform projects.

Operational Guidance Framework 
Its annex, the Operational Guidance Framework  additionally presents the recommendations in a condensed and practical manner.  Its intended audience ranges from policy and programming staff at the ministerial level to political officers at embassies and multilateral missions, to advisors implementing HRM reform programmes.  

The collected lessons and good practices can serve to inform HRM reform programming in the security sector throughout the various phases of the project cycle, ranging from analysis and assessment, programme design, mid-term reviews to final evaluations and lessons learning exercises.