On 24 February 2026 UNOAU participated in a webinar organized by the UN Security Sector Reform (SSR) Unit Community of Practice on “Hybrid Security Systems and Governance”. Dr. Niagalé Bagayoko, Chair of the African Security Sector Network (ASSN), presented the new policy brief, “Sharing Authority, Legitimacy, Capacity: Informal Security Providers to about 40 participants from different UN agencies and missions. The policy brief highlights the critical role of informal security providers in shaping hybrid security systems and governance, including how formal and informal actors interact in shaping decisions, resources, and accountability within security sectors – particularly in fragile and conflict-affected context. The document calls for nuanced approaches to SSR that recognize informal networks while upholding human rights and inclusion.
She concluded by outlining the practical implications for SSR and the key lessons on how the concept of hybridity can strengthen security and security governance systems. She emphasized that SSR should systematically analyze informal security arrangements during assessment missions, identify hybrid processes that foster inclusion and accountability, and build constructive relationships with legitimate informal actors. She also noted the importance of integrating hybrid security dynamics into program design, applying new perspectives to public expenditure reviews, involving informal actors in oversight and control mechanisms, and ensuring that informal norms, actors, and networks are incorporated into monitoring and evaluation processes.
The presentation was followed by a discussion on how the UN can better account for the hybrid nature of security in many of its operating contexts. UNDP shared experiences underscoring the need to focus on implementation processes and to recognize hybrid security systems as a structural—rather than temporary—feature of the security sector. UNDP highlighted the value of open communication, trust-building and legitimacy, understanding roles and responsibilities, as well as adaptive programming in fluid environments. Participant contributions focused on experiences from various regions, with a strong focus on Africa. UNOAU outlined AU perspectives and initiatives, including the recent Africa SSR Forum’s emphasis on people‑centered approaches to SSR, including non-state actors, as well as the AU SSR Policy Framework’s recognition of these actors. The webinar concluded by noting the growing number of partner countries seeking support on issues related to informal actors. While there is not yet a unified UN position, the policy brief offers useful guidance and marks progress toward integrating hybridity into future SSR efforts.
