News & Noteworthy

CLOSING A PARTNERSHIP AND LOOKING FORWARD

N&N no. 7 - October 2009

The Multi-country Demobilization and Reintegration Program ended on June 30, 2009, when the multi-donor trust fund financing its activities closed.

Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) projects financed by the MDRP had already been closed in most countries since the end of 2008. The only exception was the Republic of Congo, where the program ended in February 2009.

Follow-up DDR activities

DDR needs are still present in the seven countries that MDPR supported. Below is a summary table of follow-up work by country.

 

MDRP-financed Program

Follow-Up

Angola

The Angola Demobilization and Reintegration Program (ADRP) closed in December 2008.

In preparation: a new DDR operation to target over 150,000 ex-combatants from the FAA under the Lusaka and Bicesse processes, including about 33,000 ex-combatants who could not receive reintegration support before the closure of the ADRP. The government will finance this project with its own funds but will rely on expertise from international consultants in the design of the operation.

Burundi

The PNDRR (Programme National de Démobilisation, Réinsertion et Réintégration) closed in December 2008

Ongoing: a follow-up DDR operation financed by a World Bank (IDA) grant of $15 million was approved in June 2009, with co-financing from other donors in the form of a multi-donor trust fund. Other activities by UNDP or BINUB are complementary to this project.

Central African Republic

The PRAC (Projet de réinsertion des ex-combattants et d’appui aux communautés) closed in 2007.

In preparation: a new DDR operation is proposed, with possible financing from the UNDP.

Republic of Congo

The PNDDR (Programme National de Désarmement, Démobilisation et Réinsertion) closed in February 2009.

The government is seeking support from external partners, notably to continue demobilization and reintegration activities in the Pool region.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The MDRP-financed trust fund for DRC closed in May 2008.

Ongoing: the PNDDR (Programme National de Désarmement, Démobilisation et Réinsertion) is ongoing with financing from IDA and AfDB. A multi-donor trust fund for the East is also ongoing.

Rwanda

The second phase of the Rwanda Demobilization and Reintegration Program (RDRP) closed in December 2008.

Ongoing: the third phase of the RDRP, financed by an IDA grant and a multi-donor trust fund, was approved in August 2009.

Uganda

The MDRP-financed grant to the Amnesty Commission closed in June 2007.

Ongoing: a follow-up DDR operation started in July 2008, financed by five donors, and targeting 28,000 reporters and their dependents.

Learning from the legacy of MDRP

As with any partnership of the scope and size of MDRP, and in particular because of the ambitious nature of the program, it is important to assess the experience gathered over its seven years of implementation. The lessons drawn from the various assessments can then be disseminated and applied to new DDR operations in the region and elsewhere.

Evaluations are being carried out at various levels. First, governments have commissioned independent evaluations of their national DDR programs. Second, the MDRP Secretariat carried out a stocktaking exercise of all country surveys looking at impact of DDR operations.  Third, an independent evaluation of the overall regional program is ongoing by Scanteam, a Norwegian consulting firm. Its delivery is planned for the fall 2009. Finally, a legacy publication on MDRP is being prepared for completion in 2010. The book will analyze more deeply some of the characteristics that made MDRP different from other DDR initiatives. Several external contributors have been identified to work hand in hand with the MDRP Secretariat staff in relating the story of MDRP.

Looking Forward

The Transitional Demobilization and Reintegration Program (TDRP), the follow-up program to the MDRP, has now started. Contributions from the African Development Bank, Finland and Italy are being processed, while discussions with other donors continue.

The TDRP will operate over a 3-year period (2009 to 2012) with the main objective to improve the performance of existing DDR programs through financial and technical support, and to contribute to learning, coordination and synergies in DDR. One of its main challenges will be to link DDR operations with other post-conflict recovery programs and longer-term development initiatives.

Despite being small in size, the TDRP will provide a platform for dialogue, information exchange and learning on DDR as the MDRP did, in collaboration with other relevant organizations.

 

 

 

 

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