About us

The CSSF is a unique cross-government fund that tackles conflict, stability and security challenges overseas which threaten UK national security.

The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) uses a whole-of-government approach to find creative solutions to meet the most complex national security challenges and promote international peace and stability. It is guided by the priorities set out in the 2021 Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.

About the CSSF

Launched in 2015, the CSSF is a cross-government fund that spent over £870 million in financial year 2021 to 2022. It has been a catalyst for a more integrated UK government response to tackling conflict and instability. Over the last 7 years the CSSF has transformed the way the UK responds to a range of national security challenges coming from conflict, serious organised crime, and threats from both state and non-state actors overseas. It enables 17 government departments and agencies to address security priorities in a collaborative way.

The CSSF operates in over 85 countries and territories, administering more than 90 programmes and combines Official Development (ODA) and other, non-ODA funding sources. This gives the fund a broad geographic and thematic reach and a means of combining ODA and non-ODA in a way few other international donors can.

The CSSF aims to be:

  • integrated: using expertise from across government departments and agencies

  • catalytic: mobilising smaller-scale activities with a view to upscaling, providing the foundation and evidence base for longer-term programmes

  • high risk: allowing CSSF programmes to act in unstable or uncertain environments

  • agile: responsive to changing circumstances

The CSSF also manages the UK government’s funding of peacekeeping operations and deployments and manages the Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM). The RRM allows for the rapid mobilisation of emergency non-ODA resources. This was used in response to Salisbury Novichok poisonings, Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the Overseas Territories, and most recently Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Delivering the CSSF

The CSSF works to build peace and stability in countries at risk of instability as well as in regions suffering from long running conflicts. CSSF programmes administer a wide range of activity including:

Somalia

The CSSF is providing support to defectors and ex-combatants from al-Shabaab through a rehabilitation centre. The centre has helped to rehabilitate defectors, provide medical treatments and reunify them with their families.

An assessment of the centre in early 2022 found that 90% of the defectors were successfully reintegrated into society. This approach has now been used by other defector centres in Somalia.

International Organisation for Migration

Before the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) was leading a climate change project. It then pivoted towards providing support to the millions of refugees fleeing the conflict.

With the CSSF’s funding and support the IOM were able to improve living conditions for refugees in several centres. Improvements included installing of water treatment and sewage systems, solar powered streetlights and providing of non-food items. Through this work, these centres offer a safe home for refugees, including families with children.

Kosovo

CSSF funding supports local non-governmental organisations to improve the social and psychological well-being of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CSRV). It does this by increasing access to justice, rehabilitation services and reparation programmes. CSSF programmes also played a crucial role in helping Kosovan courts passing the first ever conviction for historic CSRV, including through direct support to the survivors who brought the case.

Through this work, the UK has become the leading advocate and supporter of work to address CSRV in Kosovo.

Budget

Information about the CSSF’s spend for the previous financial year is provided in the CSSF annual report 2020 to 2021. Details of budget allocations were reported to Parliament through a written ministerial statement on the financial year 2021 to 2022 allocations.

Accountability

The CSSF operates across government. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, and many other departments administer programmes.

The CSSF is managed by the Joint Funds Unit, part of the Cabinet Office. The CSSF’s Senior Responsible Officer is the Deputy National Security Adviser. At a ministerial level the Fund is overseen by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The CSSF’s overall strategic direction is aligned with the UK’s main national security priorities, as set by the government.

Annual reports

These include information on the CSSF’s governance, approach to risk, conflict sensitivity and gender:

See also the annual review summaries and the programme summaries.

Corporate information

Jobs and contracts

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