The thematic focus of the Platform’s programmatic and research activities has been established by the Steering Group through a consultative process within the network, by building on prior research, activities and programmatic focus, while adopting a forward-looking approach to incorporate emerging challenges. The priority areas of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ security and rule of law policy remain a guiding factor in the work of the Platform.
The Platform serves as a knowledge broker and plays a key role in convening actors, initiating relationships and linking (unexpected) sources of evidence to relevant audiences. The Platform hosts a repository of cutting-edge knowledge in the fields of security and rule of law, garnered from projects and programs undertaken by researchers and practitioners around the globe. The Platform additionally works to ensure greater uptake of generated evidence among policymakers, practitioners and researchers, through innovative dissemination strategies, the design and organization of thematic events and workshops, and the coordination of learning agendas among its members.
The Knowledge Management Fund (KMF) is the latest mechanism to support activities initiated by Platform members. It is a €200,000 annual fund that will award grants of up to €20,000 for events, research ideas, pilot projects and other initiatives that contribute to improving the quality of knowledge generated by the SRoL field, and its subsequent uptake.
Projects can be pursued within each year’s Thematic Headlines. To learn more, read about the KMF here.
Based on a broad international orientation and engagement, the Platform strives to contribute to the evidence base of current policies, the effectiveness of collaboration and programming, while simultaneously facilitating the generation of new knowledge on security and rule of law in conflict affected contexts. Concurrently, the Platform aims to tackle the fragmentation of research funds by acting as the main vehicle through which the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ research funds regarding international security and rule of law are allocated.
Our activities seek to:
To this end, the Platform brings together a network of relevant communities of practice comprising experts, policymakers, practitioners, researchers and the business sector. It provides for an informal meeting space – offline as well as online – and intellectual stimulus grounded in practice, for its network to share experiences, exchange lessons learned and discuss novel insights.
The Platform was established by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2012 as part of the Ministry’s knowledge policy. Key to its agenda are improving security for civilians, building the rule of law, and developing knowledge infrastructure in developing countries to enhance long term self-reliance. The Platform’s Steering Group is comprised of representatives of civil society organizations, knowledge institutions and government. The Secretariat of the Platform is managed by the Conflict Research Unit of the Netherlands Institute for International Relations, Clingendael, Saferworld and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). It is based at the offices of the Conflict Research Unit, the consortium lead.