DCAF ‘s organisational structure comprises four mutually reinforcing pillars:
i) The Policy and Research Department
ii) The Operations Department
iii) The International Security Sector Advisory Team (ISSAT)
iv) The People, Resources and Organisation Department
DCAF’s aim is to ensure that its operational experience influences its work on policy and its research projects, and vice versa. DCAF sees itself very much as a knowledge organisation, not only learning from its operational experience, but also applying its broad thematic knowledge to the operational challenges it faces.