DCAF carried out a preliminary assessment of the security sector in Haiti to identify entry points for potential additional support focusing on bridging the short- to medium-term requirements.

Produced through the adoption of combined methods, this assessment relied on a literature review and over 50 interviews with key informants, including in-country exchanges and focus groups. This is a public summary of the assessment report. 

Among our key conclusions are:

- International support must bridge short-term tactical assistance with medium-term institutional reform.
- Investments should simultaneously build operational capacity and the governance foundations of the security sector, focusing on management, leadership, accountability, and institutional integrity.
- Short-term efforts should focus on two levels. First, supporting the new Gang Suppression Force through joint operations with Haitian forces, using on-the-job training, mentoring, and peer learning to build sustainable national capacity. Second, partners must increase security sector governance assistance. This involves instilling institutional culture and know-how in security policymaking, strategic planning, and updating regulatory frameworks.

The summary report shares 17 recommendations, divided into short and medium term, as well as into those directly related to security sector assistance and national security eco-system enablers to give a variety of concrete ideas for all those interested and involved in security sector governance in Haiti.