Strengthening Security Sector Governance in Moldova (DCAF) 2022-2025

Outcome I Enhancing National Security Governance During the second half of 2023, DCAF continued its collaboration with Moldova's national security governance bodies, supporting increased expertise and capacity to contribute to good security sector governance through policy design, legislative development, and meaningful oversight. SUPPORT TO LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENT Following the approval of the new laws on the activity of the Security and Information Service (SIS), DCAF developed and proposed to the parliamentary committee for national security, defense, and public order a Concept for improving the regulation of the sub-committee for the oversight of the intelligence activity. Discussions for strengthening the work of the sub-committee continue in the Parliament. Following consultations in the Parliament regarding the new SIS laws, with the active participation of DCAF, amendments were published to the State Security Law of 1995 on 20 September 2023, for the concretisation of the responsibilities in state security, the improvement of executive control, and for establishing the tasks for the state security bodies. The work to improve this legislation will continue. DCAF contributed to the review of the new National Security Strategy, participating in several round tables and consultations organised by the Presidency, by the Parliament and by civil society organisations, and in consultation with the Supreme Security Council Secretariat and local experts. The new National Security Strategy was approved by the Parliament on December 15, 2023. CAPACITY BUILDING EVENTS FOR STAFF MEMBERS AND ADVISORS OF GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS AND CIVIL SOCIETY ON CROSS-CUTTING SECURITY TOPICS On the request of the Supreme Security Council Secretariat, DCAF organised, in partnership with the NATO-Republic of Moldova Professional Development Programme and the European Union Partnership Mission to Moldova, a workshop on disaster risk management, civil preparedness and resilience building. On the 11 and 12 December 2023, the workshop gathered over 50 participants and experts at the State Chancellery of Moldova, including members of standing parliamentary committees (environment and climate, economy, budget and finance, social protection and health), staff from the supreme security council secretariat, staff from relevant governmental ministries and institutions (ministry of internal affairs, general inspectorate for emergency situations, state protection and guard service, ministry of defense and armed forces, security and intelligence service, ministry of energy, ministry of health, ministry of finance, ministry of economic development and digitalisation, ministry of external affairs, ministry of agriculture and food industry, ministry of infrastructure and regional development), as well as representatives from civil society organisations, and observers from the World Bank, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, and the Swedish embassy in Moldova. DISSEMINATION OF KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS TO NATIONAL SECURITY GOVERNANCE INSTITUTIONS AND PARTNERS Over the course of the first implementation year, the project team has identified several thematic briefs and guidelines, previously published by DCAF, of relevance to the work of members of parliament or staff members of the institutions. By December 2023, five thematic briefs have been translated into the Romanian language and distributed to relevant partners: • The admissibility of (counter-)intelligence information as evidence in court, • Internal control in intelligence services, • Conceptualizing the relationship of good security sector governance to the state security system, • Rethinking engagement between intelligence services and civil society, • The role of parliaments in overseeing intelligence tasking. In 2024, the translated briefs will be further disseminated across the institutions, academia, and civil society, for information and reference. The addressed topics are especially relevant for staff members of the committee for national security, defense, and public order, and for the new subcommittee on intelligence oversight. OUTCOME 2 Supporting Strategic Management Capacity in the Law Enforcement System In the second half of 2023, DCAF focused its efforts under Outcome 2 on assisting the MIA in identifying priorities for strategic management, initiating longer term project processes for enhancing project management and integrity building, and responding to relevant requests from MIA for related support. Specific activities and processes are detailed below. INCREASING STRATEGIC PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT CAPACITIES IN THE MIA To contribute to increasing the MIAs capacity for strategic planning and management, DCAF provided support in several key areas. To support the establishment of a more robust project management system, DCAF is engaging with the MIA to identify and develop or install a digital project management tool. During this period, DCAF supported the MIA to identify various project management tools that might be suitable for their needs. This included a working visit to Romania in September to discuss the Inter-regional NEXT Romania Republic of Moldova Programme, which can provide funding for education, research, and technological innovation, and meetings throughout Autumn 2023 to explore project management software recommended by a range of MIAs partners. DCAF expects to support the MIA to procure and receive training for the use of their chosen software in the next year. Between August and December, DCAF collected information to form a functional analysis of strategic planning in the MIA. This analysis, conducted by an international expert from Serbia in strategic planning and management, explored strategic planning structures and functions in the central apparatus of the MIA and includes recommendations for improving the strategic planning system. DCAF will present the analysis and recommendations to the MIA in January of 2024. DCAF continued activities aimed at building integrity in the MIA by delivering a Facilitators Course, conducted in two phases between October and December 2023. OUTCOME 3 Building Public Trust During this period, DCAF has initiated several processes for improving public communication and awareness of the objectives and results of security sector reforms and governance processes in Moldova, while increasing multi-stakeholder dialogue and engagement between governmental bodies and civil society. DCAF also carried on with the capacity building processes initiated in the first half of 2023 for civil society organisations and independent experts. Update results 2023: 1. Expected Results The project successfully delivered key milestones aligned with its objectives, strengthening Moldovas security sector governance. These include: Legislative and Policy Advancements Supported the adoption of Moldovas National Security Strategy and statutory laws for the Security and Intelligence Service (SIS), aligning them with EU norms.Provided expert recommendations that influenced parliamentary hearings and legislative amendments, ensuring better democratic oversight. Institutional Capacity Building Strengthened the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and General Police Inspectorate (GPI) by conducting strategic management workshops on EU integration, risk assessment, and integrity-building.Trained mid-level managers and security sector personnel in leadership, project management, and analytical skills, creating a foundation for institutional resilience.Conducted a functional analysis of human resource management in the MIA, identifying areas for recruitment and staff retention improvements. Public Engagement and Transparency Facilitated public debate on security sector governance by supporting civil society organizations (CSOs) in producing independent reports and assessments.Launched the Security Sector Governance Report and an International Assistance Mapping Tool, improving coordination and oversight of security reforms.Organized multi-stakeholder conferences and roundtables, bridging dialogue between government, civil society, and international partners.2. Unexpected Results Alongside the planned outcomes, the project generated unexpected yet positive results that further advanced security sector governance: Stronger EU Integration Momentum Moldovas accelerated EU accession process (candidate status granted in June 2023, negotiations opened in December 2023) amplified government interest in reforms, creating greater political will for security sector improvements. Improved Crisis Preparedness A workshop on disaster risk management and civil preparedness, co-hosted with NATO and the EU Partnership Mission, brought together diverse security actors who rarely collaborate, fostering a new culture of cross-agency cooperation in crisis management. Independent Civil Society Contributions The multi-disciplinary group of 12 CSO experts who authored the Security Sector Governance Report not only gained research and monitoring skills but also enhanced their credibility in national security debates. This led to increased participation of civil society in security policy discussions, an outcome that was not initially foreseen. Increased Ownership of Integrity Training After receiving training on integrity and anti-corruption, MIA and GPI personnel independently organized four refresher sessions, training 68 additional staff without direct project involvementindicating a shift toward internalizing and sustaining reform efforts. Unexpected Requests for Support The projects engagement in parliamentary oversight and intelligence reform led to a request from Moldovas National Security, Defense, and Public Order Committee to develop an improved framework for parliamentary intelligence oversightdemonstrating increased demand for expertise beyond the initial scope.Conclusion The SSGM projects first year delivered on its expected goals, particularly in legislative reform, institutional capacity-building, and public engagement. However, unexpected outcomessuch as accelerated EU integration efforts, independent civil society contributions, and growing demand for expert guidancefurther highlight the projects strategic impact. These results indicate not just policy-level change but also a shift in institutional mindset, laying a strong foundation for sustainable reform in Moldovas security sector.

Pillar 1. Executive and legislative capacities for good security sector governance The intervention will focus primarily on strengthening institutional capacities and expertise within the Parliament (with the focus on the Committee for defense, national security, and public order) and the Supreme Security Council and its secretariat to foster executive and legislative engagement in the effective, democratic governance of the security sector, as defined by the capacity of these institutions to: - contribute adequately to the development of security sector strategies and policies, - advance the legislative and regulatory development of the security sector in a swift and responsive manner, - engage in meaningful coordination and oversight of security sector agencies. Pillar 2. Strategic management capacities and integrity building in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and General Police Inspectorate (GPI) This pillar will provide expert support to the Moldovan Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) and General Police Inspectorate (GPI) to strengthen strategic management and integrity building capacities, as following: - enhancing strategic and operational capacities for management, - improving capacities for effective internal communications, - increasing institutional capacities for the fight against corruption through integrity building, - mainstreaming gender in the policies and action plans of the MIA and GPI. Pillar 3. Sustained and informed public debate on the objectives and results of security sector reform and governance processes The programme will support relevant bodies to reconcile the democratic requirement for transparency with the equally important constraint of protecting classified information and improve their communication with the public. The MIA, GPI, SSC and the Defence Committee especially have an important and sensitive role to play in safeguarding and responding to the citizens right to know how state bodies protect national interests and spend public funds. Improved public communication will help enhance their credibility as competent guardians of the national interest and vigilant overseers of security institutions. As well, the programme will support the steering and organisation of regular multi-stakeholder meetings and joint workshops engaging state institutions and civil society members, to foster exchange and common understanding of Moldovas path towards EU accession, stability and development. CSOs and the CSOs Platform for Security and Defence will be supported to enhance their capacities in mapping and assessing different mandates, responsibilities, and performances in the security sector, delivering quality research to the parliament and government, suggesting concrete recommendations for policy change. - enhancing national legislative and executive bodies their capacity to develop and promote public information on their activity and the implementation of reforms, - increasing civil society organisations' capacity to contribute to an informed debate on security and rule of law issues, - developing and enhancing the multi-stakeholder dialogue between state and non-state actors.