There are many ways that civil society organisations—including small national organisations—can contribute to transparency in defence and security.

Civil Society organisations are usually not engaged in party politics, and are likely to be seen as neutral actors, independent of government. They can carry out independent reviews or promote monitoring mechanisms, which build trust in defence and security establishments, help them assess progress, and give credibility to their reforms. Civil Society can help fuel public debate and follow up on reforms.

Engaging with Civil Society demonstrates openness and provides governments with credibility. Civil society has a vital role to play not only in established democracies but also in post-conflict, post-authoritarian and transition states. Its knowledge and expertise can directly help defence and security institutions identify corruption risks, design and put in place measures to prevent them, and monitor these measures’ success.

Though in many countries there may be a history of antagonism between defence and security establishments and civil society organisations, these two sectors tend to share the same interests, at least in theory: security for a country’s citizens. Where corruption is rampant in defence and security establishments, they do not act in the interests of the population—civil society can play a key advocacy role in such circumstances, and push for reform and accountability. In reform-minded governments, civil society can engage collaboratively, working with defence and security establishments to build systems with integrity and accountability. They can also play an important oversight role, particularly regarding procurement.

Transparency International's Defence and Security Programme (TI DSP) can assist national or international civil society organisations if they are interested in working with Defence and Security Ministries, the armed forces, or defence companies in their countries. We can provide:

• Template letters for engagement with Defence and Security Ministers
• Technical experts and expertise to call on. Lack of expertise in defence and security is one of the biggest factors holding back civil society engagement.
• Assistance with finding independent technical experts.
• A database of recent defence bribery and corruption cases in the media.
• Knowledge of good practices in other countries.
• Research into a wide range of defence and security corruption issues.
• Material for training courses.
• Template documents to govern the operation of a Defence Integrity pact.
• Acting as technical experts to back up an Independent Monitor for a Defence Integrity Pact.
• Support and assistance with the tools and techniques outlined above.

Contact us for additional information.

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