STEP 6
Link DDR to Other Aspects of the Peace Process
Peace processes (and conflict drivers) are multifaceted. As a result, the effective management of fighting forces requires mediators to establish appropriate linkages with the relevant political, economic, and security dimensions of the entire peace process. These linkages are important for two reasons: DDR is a transitional security program and does not resolve key political, security, or economic problems of the conflict; and the implementation of DDR programs requires, from conflict parties, considerable political commitment and a high degree of confidence in the peace process.
For mediators, understanding these connections is vital. Armed with this understanding, mediators can better assess when to commence discussions on DDR issues, how to calibrate their engagement and mediation strategy, and how to leverage incentives, disincentives, and trade-offs on related issues to encourage parties to genuinely negotiate and eventually disarm, demobilize, and reintegrate fighters. Cognizant of these connections, mediators should facilitate conflict parties' internal understanding of DDR issues and the relevant linkages to other dimensions of the peace process. Key linkages that should be explored include cease-fires arrangements, political arrangements, economic reintegration, and SSR.
Cease-Fire Arrangements
Cease-fire arrangement-dependent on their timing, scope, and management-may be a useful opportunity for negotiating parties and their fighting forces to establish the confidence needed to manage subsequent DDR processes. If a cease-fire is negotiated prior to the establishment of a formal peace process, it may be one of the first opportunities for negotiating parties to discuss security issues and consider ways to jointly manage their security with the support of external facilitation.
In addition, cease-fire arrangements provide the space and opportunity to address important DDR-related issues: