Anna Cecilie is proud of her work, which is central to supporting EU efforts in achieving democratic transitions, combating violations of human rights, and increasing resilience and security measures in fragile states.
It is quite an achievement for a small nation like Denmark to be among the top five European countries with the highest number of civilian experts per capita deployed to EU Common Security and Defence (CDSP) missions around the globe. Not to mention that several of the positions Denmark fills are at a high level and of strategic importance for the country’s security and defence agenda.
The fact that several EU Member State’s seconding authorities have asked NIRAS’ DFPD Unit to share its best practices in civilian stabilisation project management speaks volumes to the success of a small team at NIRAS who are responsible for identifying, training and supporting highly professional candidates deployed as part of Denmark’s Deployment Facility for Peace and Democracy (DFPD) roster to places like Libya, Iraq, Palestine and the Sahel region.
Heading up that team of eight, Anna Cecilie Varnild is sure of NIRAS’s contribution to the DFPD’s success.
“Handling the daily administration of the DFPD for 12 years, we have developed a very good understanding of the high-risk missions we deploy experts to and the reality of their experience. Through close and continuous contact – not least by visiting experts in the field and via designated desk officers – we maintain a good overview of the possibilities and opportunities in the missions’ coming Calls for Contributions. This enables strategic targeting and selection of Denmark's contribution through the DFPD,” she explains.
“Stabilisation is a prerequisite for sustainable development. If a society is fragile and torn by conflict, most development initiatives will be undermined or short-term in nature. In NIRAS, we know that the absence of peace and stability is the number one enemy of reaching the SDGs in a world where, according to the OECD, 80% of the poor will live in conflict zones by 2030. Our experience contributing to the resolution and mediation of conflicts and building of long-lasting peace in conflict-affected contexts has taught us some important lessons. The key is to focus on prevention and risk mitigation, strengthen trust between citizens and the state, support refugees and host countries, and build partnerships with security, development, humanitarian, and private sector organisations.”
DFPD is an emergency roster under Denmark’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) that receives and assesses requests, from organisations such as the EU, UN, NATO, and the OSCE, for Danish experts to be deployed on international missions. The roster comprises about 325 civilian experts who are sent around the globe to observe elections, prevent conflict or help manage crises. On average, about 160-200 experts are deployed each year from Denmark.
Since February 2008, the practical administration of the DFPD has been outsourced to NIRAS, who recruits, identifies, trains and deploys suitable candidates for various missions upon request from the MFA.
Anna Cecilie elucidates: “The DFPD project seconds experts to civilian crisis management missions working with security sector reform, training and capacity building of different security forces, judicial sector support, and transformation from “green to blue” forces ("militarist" police force to a civilian service provider) for example in Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Chad, Georgia, Ukraine, and Palestine. We also second experts to election observation missions organized by EU and OSCE in countries receiving development assistance all over the world.”
The mother of eight-year-old twins and a teenager, Anna Cecilie grew up in Brede, a small village north of Copenhagen where she still lives today. Following a BA in Religion Science with Arabic Language, she undertook two Masters both with fieldwork in Niger: A Master of Arts in Sociology of Religion and a Master in African Studies with Portuguese Language.
Prior to joining NIRAS in 2008, Anna Cecilie worked for CARE Denmark in Niger and did freelance work for Salaam Film & Dialogue, a multicultural film festival, as well as the Danish Institute for International Studies for whom she organised Auschwitz Day, in remembrance of genocide victims.
Anna Cecilie started as DFPD’s Project Manager, transitioning to Deputy Team Leader and, since 2014, Team Leader.
“The team consist of seven people apart from me. We work very closely together and are ‘on call’ around the clock due to the nature of the project. Everyone chips in and gives an extra effort when needed. In a way, DFPD is a bit of a family, both in our NIRAS team but also with the experts we assist - at odd hours often with babies in our arms - in many challenging and sometimes strange situations around the world.
“My role is coordination of the team and setting the strategic direction in close dialogue with the MFA. I have responsibility for overall administrative procedures as well as the ongoing monitoring and evaluation and integrating lessons learned into day-to-day operations. I’m also the key focal point person in the case of reports of misconduct or emergencies, which luckily are rare.”
When asked what she is most proud of in her work, the 44-year-old is quick to respond.
“The work we do is central to supporting EU efforts in achieving democratic transitions, combating violations of human rights, and increasing resilience and security measures in fragile states. There can be no achievement of the SDGs without peace and stability. And while NIRAS provides diverse and context-specific advice within a number of technical areas, the common denominator is the fragile context where we work. I know our work is making a difference in people’s lives.
“Another aspect I am proud of is our effort to improve the gender balance among the seconded experts. Increasing women’s share in peace and stabilisation efforts began as an equal rights issue but has evolved into an argument for better missions and sustainability of conflict resolution. Women’s participation in missions is thought to increase operational effectiveness, acceptance by host country populations and the EU’s credibility as an actor who puts action behind its human rights and gender rhetoric. It’s a challenge for sure as women represent a small proportion of those working in the security sector. Missions are as a standard defined as ‘non-family duty stations’, limiting incentives for women and men with partners and children. But our efforts are paying off as Denmark is fourth best in terms of seconding female experts to EU CSDP missions.”
Working from home during the pandemic is surely difficult for the leader of a team who are both colleagues and friends, but Anna Cecilie’s work has prepared her well for times of COVID.
“I’ve learned at DFPD to always try to keep calm and stay focused when the hurricane is blowing. I don’t always succeed, but I still try. Working with people I know well and on whom I can really rely, keeps stress at bay.”
