First Annual Conference
AFRICAN PRIVATE SECURITY GOVERNANCE OBSERVATORY
FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Nairobi, Kenya 8th – 9th October 2018
The African Private Security Governance Observatory held its Annual Conference on 8th and 9th October 2018 at Golden Tulip Hotel in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya under the theme; “Promoting oversight and accountability of the private security sector in Africa.” The conference was hosted by the Usalama Reforms Forum, local partner member of the Observatory, and coordinated by DCAF.
This was the first Annual Conference that brought together the network of civil society organisations (CSOs) within the African Private Security Governance Observatory from both the Anglophone and Francophone Observatories. Approximately 50 participants, representing CSOs from Anglophone and Francophone observatories, deliberated challenges and opportunities in the private security sector, reflected on Observatory activities in 2018, as well as national initiatives within the framework of the Observatory, discussed various tools and capacity building opportunities available, and considered current structures and governance processes in each section of the Observatory and planned for the year 2019. Representatives of the Anglophone and Francophone Steering Committees presented experiences from their regions and the status of their governance structures. Perspectives on the tools developed within the Observatory and international initiatives, such as the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers, the Montreux Documents and the Voluntary Principles were provided, as well as an overview of how they can be directly beneficial to the civil society.
The conference confirmed the engagement and commitment of members to improving security. The need to conduct sensitization and capacity building through training and training of the trainer for sustainability and to improve communication amongst the members was underlined. Conclusion of the conference stressed the importance of maintaining the spirit of constructive engagement.
