The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) is an international foundation established in 2000 on the initiative of the Swiss government. DCAF’s primary ­fields of activity include security sector reform (SSR) and security sector governance (SSG). The Centre’s work to support effective, efficient security sectors, which are accountable to the state and its citizens, is underpinned by the acknowledgement that security, development, and the rule of law are essential preconditions for sustainable peace. DCAF is guided by the principles of neutrality, impartiality, gender sensitivity, and local ownership as the basis for supporting legitimate, sustainable reform processes. DCAF combines conceptual, analytical, and operational capabilities in order to support a holistic SSR agenda. The Centre provides advisory ­field support and in-country assistance programmes, develops and promotes appropriate SSR norms and standards at national and international levels, offers project-speci­fic SSR policy guidance, and conducts policy-relevant research into SSR and SSG as well as related ­fields.