Peace and security are essential foundations for sustainable development and human well-being. Yet, armed conflicts, organised crime, and political instability continue to disrupt societies: more than 110 million people have been forcibly displaced globally as of 2024 (UNHCR) and global conflicts have doubled over the past five years, resulting in over 233,000 deaths (Armed conflict location & event data project).

One in eight people were exposed to conflict in 2024. According to the OECD 2025 States of Fragility report, countries affected by fragility and conflict account for up to 40% of the world’s extreme poor, highlighting the deep socio-economic impacts of insecurity.

These dynamics not only endanger lives but also erode governance, fuel inequality, strain ecosystems, and hinder access to essential services. Responding effectively requires more than crisis management: conflict prevention, stabilisation, and peacebuilding must address root causes, rather than merely treating symptoms.

Strengthening peace and security is therefore a strategic priority for international cooperation, enabling collective responses to transnational threats and building long-term resilience.

Priorities

Enabel’s approach to security is rooted in the broader Belgian Foreign Affairs strategy and the 3D nexus (Diplomacy, Defense, Development) which promotes coherence and collaboration among Belgian actors. This commitment is reflected in five strategic priorities:

Strengthening human security and the rule of law: Enabel supports institutions in the security sector to improve equitable access to public services and rebuild trust between citizens and authorities. A key objective is to increase the proportion of people who feel safe in their communities and are satisfied with their interactions with public security services.

Conflict prevention and peacebuilding: Enabel promotes conflict-sensitive approaches to reduce vulnerability and strengthen community resilience. These efforts aim to prevent the emergence and escalation of violent conflicts by addressing root causes and fostering social cohesion.

Combating transnational organized crime: Enabel collaborates with Belgian and international partners to enhance the capacities of security actors, including police units and customs officials. This includes promoting regional cooperation and supporting mechanisms to combat illicit trafficking and criminal networks.

Security sector reform: Aligned with international standards, Enabel supports institutional reforms that improve governance, accountability and service delivery. We do this training, providing equipment, technical support, and awareness-raising.

Promoting integrated action: Enabel uses the Humanitarian-Development-Peacebuilding Nexus to bring together actors and funding around shared goals and a common fragility analysis. This approach combines immediate protection of population, the restoration of essential public services, and the prevention and transformation of conflict drivers -ultimately achieving lasting security gains.

Services

Governance, Accountability and Community Engagement

• Strengthening internal and external oversight mechanisms
• Support to anti-corruption, human rights protection, and transparency
• Promotion of community policing and crisis management
• Support to civil society participation and local security planning
• Support local mechanisms of conflict prevention and resolution, such as land commissions.
• Collaboration with non-state actors, including community-based security initiatives

Institutional Support to Security Actors

• Capacity building for police, civil protection, customs, armed forces
• Reform of human resources, training systems, and operational procedures
• Support to criminal investigations, forensic services, and intelligence management
• Crisis management and adaptation to violent extremism and organized crime
• Cybersecurity frameworks and digital capacity strengthening
• Port and airport security (e.g. canine brigades)