Security and Development

Over the past two years or so, European Union institutions have issued a number of policy documents and statements signaling a paradigm shift in the approach to the issue of security and development. These documents raise concerns about the specific role of development and humanitarian aid policies in the broader context of EU external policies. There are signs that long-term poverty reduction is losing ground as the primary objective, while security and stability are gaining importance.

Aprodev recognises the obvious and close links which exist between peace, security and development. Development co-operation policies should not be autonomous but their integrity should be safeguarded. Promoting the security of (northern) donor countries cannot take precedence over the primary goal of development co-operation, which is to improve the livelihoods of poor people with the ultimate objective of eradicating poverty.

Aprodev papers

Too Big, Too Many, Too Much: policies and instruments of the EU in post peace agreement areas: a coherent contribution to stability, security and development? - May 2008

Report commissioned by Aprodev on the question of the coherence of EU development and security policies in the specific case of South Sudan.

Whose Security? Human security seen from a gender and southern perspective - November 2005

Briefing paper from a workshop with partners from India and Sudan on the realities of conflict and threat to human security and the way it impacts on women's security.

Whose Security? Integration and integrity in EU policies for security and development - June 2005

An assessment of the changing EU external relations policy framework from a development perspective and policy recommendations to safeguard the integrity of EU work on poverty reduction. This discussion paper is published to stimulate reflection and action on the specific role of development cooperation in the broader context of EU external and security policies.

Security and development: Dossier of internal workshop organised by APRODEV, CIDSE and CARITAS Europa - November 2004

This dossier contains the main documents emanating from an internal workshop organised on 4 November 2004 by the three networks to reflect on the increasing tendency to see development
cooperation as an instrument for achieving security objectives and countering threats, and the
tendency towards military intervention becoming more accepted as a tool in the pursuit of peace
and security, among other issues.