About us

The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) is dedicated to making states and people safer through more effective and accountable security and justice. Since 2000, DCAF  has facilitated, driven and shaped Security Sector Reform (SSR) policy and programming around the world.

Good Security Sector Governance (SSG), based on the rule of law and respect for human rights, is the very basis of development and security. DCAF assists partner states in developing laws, institutions, policies and practices to improve the governance of their security sector through inclusive and participatory reforms based on international norms and good practices. In everything it does, DCAF adheres to the principles of impartiality, local ownership, inclusive participation and gender equality.

DCAF also advises governments and international organizations in designing and implementing their own programmes for supporting states in developing their security sector governance. DCAF creates innovative knowledge products, promotes norms and good practices, and provides legal and policy advice. DCAF supports capacity building of state, civil society and private sector stakeholders by providing access to independent expertise and information on Security Sector Governance and Reform (SSG/R).

DCAF’s Foundation Council comprises 63 member states, the Canton of Geneva, and six permanent observers. Operational in more than 70 countries, DCAF is internationally recognized as a leading world centre of excellence for SSG and SSR. Headquartered at the Maison de la Paix, in Geneva, DCAF has field offices in Bamako, Banjul, Beirut, Brussels, Ljubljana, Ramallah, Skopje, Tegucigalpa, Tripoli and Tunis. DCAF employs more than 170 staff with a broad range of expertise from over 40 countries.