The project focused on effective dissemination of findings, results and materials generated in the ICT4COP project to relevant actors in Norway. This is an important activity, since Norway is a major contributor to post-conflict reform processes internationally. We have identified a number of actors in Norway that we knew would benefit from engaging in ICT4COP outcomes, which fall into three categories: academia, politics and civil society. Each has its particular needs and interests: In academia dissemination focused on curriculum development, both for students and practitioners. There are several educational programs, i.e., International Relations, Policing, Development Studies, and Peacebuilding that directly benefited from the inclusion of the perspectives and case studies addressed in the CT4COP research. For policymakers, the dissemination focused on targeted meetings and workshops with discussions on how the findings can be included in Norway's foreign and development policy (external and internal), and the policies of international organizations where Norway is active, i.e. EU, UN, NATO and OSCE. For civil society organizations, the dissemination focused on how to use the findings in their work in post-conflict regions, where they are strongly engaged in capacity-building activities in police reform processes. The communication to a wider audience is mainly through the development of the ICT4COP Center's website, where, among other things, digital stories show the importance of understanding the challenges, dilemmas and opportunities for change inherent in the post-conflict police reform processes that Norwegian stakeholders are working on. The dissemination process started with a start-up workshop, where a network of Norwegian stakeholders from all three categories were informed about the project and contributed ideas on how the dissemination could be continued during the project period. The dissemination was interactive, where the use of the results was rooted in the needs of the stakeholders. Most of the workshops had participants from all three categories of actors, to highlight the complexity of police reform processes, and the importance of forming networks and discussion forums across disciplines and professions.
Main outcomes:
- Strengthened the outreach of the ICT4COP Center, and with that the awareness of the ICT4COP Center as a key national and international resource center on COP and police reform in post-conflict contexts
- Increased competency of Norwegian stakeholders (policymakers, academics and police and NGO practitioners) in understanding post-conflict police reform processes, and the importance of community-based policing as a main focus.
- Increased understanding of community policing among stakeholders working in the Norwegian context
- Formation of a Norwegian stakeholder's network
- Specific recommendations for improving Norwegian security and development policy
- Increased visibility and understanding of Norway's contribution to knowledge on COP in post-conflict contexts by key international security actors (UN, EU, OSCE, NATO)
- Development of new curriculum for international police advisors and mentors in COP in post-conflict police reform
Potential impacts:
- Development of new courses and research together with ICT4COP Center Hubs in selected countries (currently being established in Kenya and Pakistan)
- Development of an international network of ICT4COP Center Hubs connecting police reform actors across the globe
- Further development of the Police Experts Network (PEN)
The project will focus on the effective dissemination of the findings, results and materials generated in the ICT4COP project to relevant stakeholders in Norway. This is an important activity, since Norway is a major contributor
to post-conflict reform processes internationally. We have identified a range of stakeholders in Norway who we know will benefit from engaging with ICT4COP results, that fall within three categories: academia, policy, and civil society. Each have their particular needs and interests: In academia, dissemination will focus on curriculum development, both for students and practitioners. There are several educational programs i.e. international relations, policing, development studies and peace building that would directly benefit from the inclusion of the perspectives and cases studies addressed in the CT4COP research. For policymakers, dissemination will focus on targeted meetings and workshops with discussions on how the findings might be included in Norway's foreign and development policy (external and internal), and policies of international organizations in which Norway is active i.e. the EU and UN. For civil society organizations, dissemination will focus on how to use the e-handbook and e-learning content in their work in post-conflict regions, as they are often heavily engaged in capacity-building activities. There will also be an effort to reach a wider public through the production of a digital story and/or film on the importance of understanding the challenges, dilemmas and opportunities for change inherent in the post-conflict police reform processes with which Norwegian stakeholders work. The dissemination process will begin with an upstart workshop, where a network of Norwegian stakeholders from all three categories will be formed and detailed plans made for the work for the duration of the project. The dissemination will be interactive, maximizing impact, where the use of the results are grounded in the needs of the stakeholders.