Objective 

This workshop brings together Security Force Liaison Officers (SFLO), reporting and M&E experts to deepen their analysis and reporting on issues related to engaging with local, national and regional security forces - civil military engagement, human rights due diligence, gender, risk management and collaboration with other agencies and partners for sustainable programming. The objective is to have a granular level of review and assessment of SFLO role and operations in practice with a view to developing useful guidelines/toolkit for the SFLO role in stabilization operations. It is also to ensure a shared understanding of the role of SFLOs and identify appropriate indicators to capture the results and outcomes of civ-mil engagement in their assessments and reporting.

A timely exploration of such issues for UNDP Stabilization Programmes in the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako-Gourma region, will result in strengthening the design and delivery of stabilization activities in these increasingly complex environments and especially at a time that an extended phase of stabilization programming is being considered for the Lake Chad Basin countries and a recalibration of the stabilization approach for the Liptako Gourma region. 

The premise of this conflict sensitive approach in operations, recognizes that complex conflict environments require stabilization programming to exemplify inclusive security and be continually adaptive. The end result is the consolidation of programme gains and timely transition(s) into resilient communities, effectively co-supported by humanitarian and other partner agencies throughout a UNDP Stabilization life cycle.

About Security Force Liaison Officers

On 11 November 2022, the Security Force Liaison Officer’s Network was established by the UNDP Sub-Regional Hub for West and Central Africa as a platform to foster a more robust approach to embedding conflict sensitivity and conflict analysis in stabilization programming. 

The network sought to unite Security Force Liaison Officers, Civil Military Officers (CIMIC), and stabilization experts working in the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako-Gourma region and was designed for:

• Learning and Sharing: Exchanging information, experiences, and best practices from field operations.
• Relationship Building: Strengthening connections among experts from different country programmes to offer mutual support.
• Collaboration and Policy Support: Creating opportunities for enhanced collaboration and supporting policy formulation and guidance.

The ultimate goal of the network is to enhance collective and regional analysis and conflict sensitivity within UNDP stabilization programmes.

The SFLO Approach

The UNDP Stabilization model and the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Regional Strategy for the Stabilization, Recovery and Resilience of the Boko Haram affected Areas of the Lake Chad Basin Region (RS-SRR) recognize that successful stabilization cannot be achieved through security measures alone. There is a critical need to improve coordination between military and civilian actors to enable enhanced humanitarian access and to promote a civilian-led stabilization process. This approach complements military efforts and allows security forces to concentrate on their primary responsibilities.

The SFLO role is thus strategic, bridging security-related issues with community needs. This role is pivotal in planning, sequencing, and coordinating initiatives aimed at:

• Extending humanitarian access in border areas
• Facilitating the safe cross-border return of refugees, and
• Supporting the secure opening of borders to boost human mobility and cross-border trade.

Key Areas of SFLO Intervention include:

• Conflict and security analysis and risk assessment.
• Liaison with security forces, authorities, and communities.
• Coordination with humanitarian actors.
• Advice on cooperation with security forces.
• Coordination and information exchange with stabilization teams at regional and country office level.