This SSR Backgrounder is about the concept of security sector governance (SSG). The concept of governance provides a way to understand how power and authority over state and human security are exercised within a state. Applying the principles of good governance to the security sector is the goal of security sector reform (SSR).

This SSR Backgrounder answers the following questions:

• What is governance and what does it have to do with security?
• What is good SSG?
• What is the difference between SSG and good SSG?
• What are some typical features of good SSG?
• What problems does poor SSG cause?
• Why is oversight essential to good SSG?
• How is good SSG related to SSR?