Les consultants face aux défis d’implantation de la 
Réforme du Secteur de la Sécurité (RSS)
Security Sector Reform (SSR) is a growing priority for actors on the international scene. Through this process the beneficiary states are supported in the reorientation of their institutional frameworks, the strengthening of their structures, of their institutional capacity, and of the groups involved in the security sector (African Union, 2013). The implementation of these programs is today more outsourced towards the private sector, among others, the consultants. The interest of these external actors is that they offer donors a solution to quickly mobilize teams of technical experts with the necessary soft skills. However, our knowledge of the results of SSR programs are limited; furthermore, the study on the contribution and the subcontracting practices to external actors remains a neglected research area (Jackson, 2011). In this sense, the objective of this study is twofold: firstly, we aim to address the empirical research gaps by confronting the major normative principles of RSS as stated in the manuals of international organizations by addressing ourselves directly to consultants, leading players in the implementation of the RSS. Secondly, we aim to identify the challenges that affect the projects and prove decisive, according to the experience of these consultants, to the success or otherwise failure of reforms. Thus, this study will reveal, among other things, project implementation difficulties resulting from the conflicting interests and gaps in coordination of donors, despite the existence of international standards. We also will reveal how the effectiveness of consultants’ missions is compromised because of the particular political interests of the involved parties and willingness, on the part of donors, for immediate and tangible results that lead to conduct programs that are limited to getting internal support for external activities. Finally, we discuss some of the issues characterizing these complex operations and their outsourcing.
consultants security sector reform implementation outsourcing consultants