Insights
Notes on the work
Occasional pieces on how security capability is assessed, built and lost. Written from what we have seen rather than from what is fashionable.
The unsupported asset
Equipment is rarely lost at handover. It is lost at the first repair nobody funded, which is why sustainment has to be designed in from the bid.
Earlier notes
8 pieces
The wall and the watchman
Proposals to fence Nigeria’s northern border need to address the wider questions of response, responsibility and long-term support.
Holding ground
The lasting cost of a patrol base lies in staffing and support, which need to be understood before construction begins.
The governance vacuum
Security in forest regions depends on lawful, accountable institutions that communities can rely on over time.
Buying by the hour
The way a service is priced affects who carries the risk. Buyers need to understand both the headline rate and the obligations behind it.
Haiti and the neighbours
Haiti’s crisis affects neighbouring states through migration, criminal networks and pressure on public services. Each needs a different response.
Detection is the easy part
Finding a crossing is only one part of border management. Processing, evidence and case resolution also need attention.
The price of a gift
Donated equipment can meet an urgent need, but its operating costs and conditions deserve as much attention as the initial gift.
Borrowed capability
How to assess whether an institution can sustain its performance when external support ends.