HE INER HÄ NGGI an d VINC ENZ A S C HER RERThis article examines the possibilities and constraints of the United Nations in developing and implementing an integrated approach to Security Sector Reform (SSR), with particular emphasis on integrated missions. The article introduces the SSR concept, and examines the UN's engagement in this sector. It then forwards three main strands of argument that support the need for developing an integrated SSR approach, and highlights the impact that this will have on the coherence and efficiency of UN support to national SSR processes. Examining the challenges and obstacles the UN system will face in developing such an approach, the article concludes on a cautious note and questions the extent to which an integrated SSR approach is feasible.

This license allows for copying any part of the work for personal and commercial use, providing author attribution is clearly stated. This book was originally published by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), an international foundation whose mission is to assist the international community in pursuing good governance and reform of the security sector. The title transferred to Ubiquity Press when the series moved to an open access platform. The full text of this book was peer reviewed according to the original publisher's policy at the time. The original ISBN for this title was 978-92-9222-204-8. SSR Papers is a flagship DCAF publication series intended to contribute innovative thinking on important themes and approaches relating to security sector reform (SSR) in the broader context of security sector governance (SSG). Papers provide original and provocative analysis on topics that are directly linked to the challenges of a governance-driven security sector reform agenda. SSR Papers are intended for researchers, policy-makers and practitioners involved in this field. The views expressed are those of the author(s) alone and do not in any way reflect the views of the institutions referred to or represented within this paper.

No abstract

International support to what is meant to be a sensitive exercise of national policymaking is recognised to be extremely challenging. 4 It raises many questions. How to ensure national ownership in the face of national capacity gaps and tight international timelines? How to reconcile national values with international standards? Finally, what is the scope for international support in an area that touches upon 'national security', which has traditionally been seen as off limits to international efforts? 5 This paper posits that 'NSPmaking' should be perceived as a component of longerterm institutionbuilding in order to enhance positive synergies between external support and national processes. Consequently, it examines UN support to NSP development from the perspective of externally assisted institutionbuilding. It first frames NSP development within the context of institutionbuilding. It then looks at UN support to NSP development in theory and practice, drawing on case studies of the Central African Republic (CAR), Liberia and TimorLeste. 6 Finally, the paper evaluates some of the main tensions and opportunities presented by externally driven support to NSPmaking. In no way does it claim to cover all the challenges of support to NSPmaking; nor does it examine institutionbuilding in detail. Rather, with reference to concrete examples, it attempts to underline how an institutionbuilding perspective can broaden our understanding of UN support to NSPmaking processes.For the purpose of this paper, the term of NSP refers to all documents that are nationally developed as part of a policy making process to promote national security. This includes national security policies, national security strategies and 4 See, for instance, Edward Rees, 'Security Sector Reform (SSR) and Peace Operations: Improvisation and Confusion from the Field', external study for Peacekeeping Best Practices Section of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations