Danish stabilisation effort

The last ten years, Denmark has increased its focus on stabilisation efforts in fragile and conflict-affected contexts using a comprehensive approach, which integrates a wide range of national instruments such as diplomacy, development aid and defence capacity building.

In September 2013, a stabilisation policy (Denmark’s integrated stabilisation engagement in fragile and conflict-affected areas of the world) was introduced. The policy summarizes the Danish approach to stabilisation and focuses on how cooperation between relevant ministries can be strengthened.

The stabilisation policy sets the direction for Danish efforts in order to create a more holistic framework both thematically and geographically.

The Peace- and Stabilisation Fund

The funding for Danish stabilisation activities comes from the Peace and Stabilisation Fund. In 2023, the fund held more than 500 million Danish Kroner with a combination of development and non-developments funds. Typically, engagements under the Fund is implemented through multi-year regional programmes combining activities around a common objective. In the framework of the Peace and Stabilisation Fund, regional programmes are being implemented in for instance Syria-Iraq, Ukraine, Georgia, the Gulf of Guinea and The Horn of Africa. In addition, a number of smaller efforts are also being implemented.

A inter-ministerial structure

An inter-ministerial steering committee with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Justice – and other ministries when necessary – ensure a coherent, integrated stabilisation policy and action across the relevant Danish government actors. The committee convenes 5-8 times annually.

The steering committee is being serviced by an inter-ministerial secretariat: A group of civil servants from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Danish Ministry of Defence. The main functions of the Secretariat is to support the steering committee in carrying out its functions and the day-to-day coordination and management related to the Fund. 

Capacity building efforts of the Danish Defence

The Danish Defence contributes to sustained stability through, among other things, capacity building of the security architecture of the partner countries in order to increase their ability to take care of their own security. This effort can be carried out by deploying military advisors, supporting educational programmes, providing training opportunities etc.

The Danish Defence, the Danish Home Guard, and the Danish Emergency Management Agency are cooperating with and supporting Ukraine, Georgia,  the Sahel-region and Eastern Africa in order to enhance their capacity to contribute to stability and security. The Danish effort can be carried out in a bilateral framework or as part of a multilateral effort in NATO, with the Nordic countries (NORDEFCO) or as part of a Nordic-Baltic effort (NBAP).