The argument for modernizing a country’s military, police and prison services is a simple economic one.  Professional, accountable and stable military, police and prison services are key contributors to political stability.  Political stability is a significant part of the assessment process prior to investment by financial institutions and private investors.  The development of a country’s military, police and prison services is a fundamental component of encouraging investment.  Simultaneously, it is an expression of will by a government to provide that necessary stability to its citizens.

The Institution Development practice works with Government Ministries and the militaries, police forces and prison services they control to create services that are professional, accountable, act with integrity and exemplify the state’s relationship with its citizens as being responsible to them and to the Government. 

As necessary, the Institution Development practice draws from all of the specialities within the firm to understand the current situation and the desired end-state, and to work with the client to reach that end state, which is likely to be a fully functioning organization with an embedded culture and all of the requisite departments and skill sets necessary to achieve world-class status. 

Institution Development is not an overnight process, as it often involves culture change.  Therefore the company undertakes long-term involvement, designing change that is incremental and embedded, rather than fast, superficial and doomed to failure. 

The Institution Development team can be deployed as a result of a crisis, to work with peace-keepers, peace-enforcers or other engaged parties to understand the short-term mandated and financed aspirations which they use as a starting point to develop long-term plans, or to deploy a planning team as part of a more deliberate arrangement to develop a relationship and plan before commencing work with the client organization(s).