• To enhance the capacity of civilians to exercise democratic control over the military.
• To reduce friction and misunderstanding between civil and military cultures.
• To encourage civil society, the media, and the academic community to address civilian-military issues, especially as a prerequisite toward achieving democratic ideals.
• To start the process of re-professionalizing the military.

• Work with defense and intelligence committees in host-country legislatures on procedures for military oversight.
• Support media programs that teach journalists more about defense issues and how to write about them in order to keep public debate alive.
• Make grants to local NGOs and academics to facilitate discussion and document options for a military reform program that emphasizes civilian control.
• Sponsor the production of a white paper for political debate and decisions on legislation.
• Provide support for the development of an action plan to help guide the host government in transforming the military's role.
• Work with partners to host dialogues and workshops to improve communication among civilian and military communities.

In Nigeria, OTI paired a specialized U.S.-based consulting group with Nigerian counterparts to develop a comprehensive action plan for improving civilian-military relations. The plan was adopted and is being implemented jointly by both U.S. and Nigerian Governments. Among the changes being adopted is the inclusion of more civilian officials in the Ministry of Defense.

In Peru, where military coups and interference by the armed forces in politics have been frequent, including a period of military rule from 1968-1980, building capacity for civilian, democratic control over the military was essential. OTI responded by providing training and technical assistance to the Peruvian Congress to support more informed, participatory decision-making on defense and national security issues; assistance to independent media to improve the quality and quantity of coverage of military-related issues; support for dialogues to encourage better communication and mutual understanding between civilian and military organizations; and funding for civil society groups to expand their understanding of defense policy and their ability to monitor and advocate reform.

Lessons Learned about Civil-Military Relations Programs

• Heed legal restrictions, but do not shy away from legitimate engagement in the civilian-military arena. Since USAID is prohibited from directly assisting foreign militaries, OTI has worked with civilian defense officials to build their capacity and interest in reform. Although the possibility of renewed military domination of a country's political life is often a key threat to success of the civilian, democratic government, this area has unfortunately been ignored previously because of its political sensitivity.
  
  
• When dealing with security issues like civilian-military relations, it is essential to weave civil society participation into the process. Because this approach often runs counter to the ways that both the military and the police operate, it is important to have a multi-disciplinary team work on any assistance program provided to the host government (i.e. any security program needs to be strongly rooted in the proper development context).
  
  
• The appropriate and different roles and responsibilities of the military and the police must be clearly understood as part of any training or reform process. Otherwise, there is the danger that confusion on the part of the government, public, and/or the two different forces could result in the inability of either institution to cope effectively with internal security problems and uphold the rule of law.