Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
Encyclopedia
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (S/CRS) is a United States Department of State
Office that coordinates United States' governmental reconstruction and stabilization efforts in developing countries before, during, and after armed conflict.
Prior to 2011, the bureau was known as the "Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization". In November 2011, it changed to the current name.
and Afghanistan
and lessons learned demonstrating the need for improved coordination between civilian organizations and the military.
The President signed NSPD-44 in Dec. 2005 to outline responsibilities of the office. Title XVI of Public Law 110-417, The Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008, codified these responsibilities and authorized the creation of a Civilian Response Corps
. The current Coordinator is Robert Geers Loftis
, and in his capacity reports directly to the Secretary of State
. In addition to 2004 legislation the Department of Defense
issued its own directive, 3000.05, establishing the importance of civilian operations through policy which was given similar priority to combat operations.
civilian capacity to prevent or prepare for post-conflict situations, and to help stabilize and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil strife, so they can reach a sustainable path toward peace
, democracy
and a market economy
.
, U.S. Army War College
, Naval Postgraduate School
and Naval War College
for training and exercises. For operational support the office holds enabling relationships with combatant commands (JFCOM, EUCOM, SOCOM
, SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM, PACOM
). Humanitarian, stabilization and reconstruction teams interoperate with Defense Department regional combatant commands
to provide unique capabilities for environments at risk of or in conflict. The concepts call for incorporating civilian expertise in military missions from planning to combat operations to stability and reconstruction. Responsibility for operations quickly transitions from the military to the civilian following and during the combat operations stage in preparation for stability and reconstruction. Experts have commented that a goal of the office is to provide the Department of Defense
with a viable exit strategy for complex operations. Expertise is developed through exercises and training conducted in order to ready civilians and military for complex operations.
) and Canada (the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force - START). A source of particular success has historically been the coordination of collective deployments and assessments for conflict prone countries. In consultation with think tanks, non-governmental organizations and reconstruction and stabilization practitioners, the office readies itself through development of concepts and the sharing of best practices. Coordinating strategic planning is conducted in cooperation with international financial institutions, regional organizations in key countries, the United Nations, European Union, G-8, OSCE and NATO.
Examples of past engagements with the International Community:
efforts. The ICAF is a recognized component of interagency planning that complements and avoids replicating existing analyses such as instability watch lists, diplomatic reporting and intelligence
.
The ICAF is a first step within planning, a process that, under the direction of the integrated management system, is a preparatory process combining combatant command multinational headquarters with civilian planning cells. Using whole of government resources the ICAF represents a situational assessment which leads to the formulation of policy advisory memos and statements. A concluding outcome is implementation at the regional military command level incorporating one or more of a variety of actors in theatre including non government organizations, United Nations Missions, or region specific organizations such as the African Union
or the Economic Community of West African States
.
The goal of IMS is to coordinate efficiently in post-conflict situations. To ensure a level of symmetry and coherency the framework focuses on assisting with and supporting the chief of mission’s decision making processes. The framework relies on academic models and input from the United States Agency for International Development
has provided a valuable addition creating an interagency methodology to assess instability and conflict. The planning framework has already been used in U.S. interagency planning for Sudan
, Haiti
, and Cuba
, and S/CRS has just begun facilitating interagency planning for Kosovo
.
and the U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute. The Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction is a complementary manual to the U.S. Army’s Field Manual 3-07: Stability Operations, which established the U.S. military’s role in reconstruction and stabilization. The framework identified in the manual offers a critical tool for educating and training the hundreds of officers in the active, standby and reserve components of the U.S. Department of State’s Civilian Response Corps.
The guiding principles manual offers two important contributions: 1) a comprehensive set of shared principles and 2) a shared strategic framework. The strategic framework is the cornerstone of the manual and is based on a validated construct of common end states, necessary conditions and major approaches. It embraces five shared end states for stabilization and reconstruction missions: a safe and secure environment, rule of law, stable governance, a sustainable economy and social well-being.
The manual has been identified as a practical roadmap for helping countries transition from violent conflict to peace. In consultation with NATO planners, British stabilizers, UN peacebuilders and other key partners, the manual’s lead writer, United States Institute of Peace’s Beth Cole approaches the manual’s content as seeking to fill a gap, providing guidance for civilian planners and practitioners that has been identified as being long overdue. The manual contains input of major strategic policy documents from state ministries of defense, foreign affairs and development. The viewpoints of organizations that operate in conflict prone environments are represented and include major intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, indicative of the collaborative efforts required to confront reconstruction and stabilization scenarios.
The Department of State’s Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization has been authorized by Congress to oversee the inception and execution of whole of government planning. Current legislation has empowered the office to perform planning processes in foreign states and regions at risk of, in or in transition from conflict. The combined expertise and powers vested in the office allows planning that is flexible, appropriately resourced, strategy-driven, operationally focused and rapidly deployable.
Many of the principles that have been acknowledged as standard procedure are cross cutting principles adopted and modified from military doctrine adapted to the requirements of the United States Government interagency. Implementation models have identified the distinction between military and civilian operations and have incorporated the necessary considerations for operating in environments where the military is not present. While the underlying framework is similar, military and civilian reconstruction and stabilization missions differ on the level of detail, timing and personnel. The framework that describes the specific steps in the planning process includes:
Reconstruction & Stabilization S/CRS Planning
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
Office that coordinates United States' governmental reconstruction and stabilization efforts in developing countries before, during, and after armed conflict.
Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization |
|
| Established: | August 15, 2004 |
| Coordinator: | Robert Geers Loftis |
| Budget: | $249 Million FY 2009 |
| Employees: | 170+ permanent positions, detailees, and contractors; 23 are in the Civilian Response Corps Civilian Response Corps The Civilian Response Corps is a program of the United States Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization... |
Prior to 2011, the bureau was known as the "Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization". In November 2011, it changed to the current name.
Background
The Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization was created to handle issues relating to conflict. The office is responsible for coordinating federal government efforts relating to countries at risk of or in conflict, a core competency of the Department of State but not a competency recognized through the institutionalization of a dedicated office within the department. In 2004 the office was created in response to experiences in IraqIraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and lessons learned demonstrating the need for improved coordination between civilian organizations and the military.
The President signed NSPD-44 in Dec. 2005 to outline responsibilities of the office. Title XVI of Public Law 110-417, The Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act of 2008, codified these responsibilities and authorized the creation of a Civilian Response Corps
Civilian Response Corps
The Civilian Response Corps is a program of the United States Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization...
. The current Coordinator is Robert Geers Loftis
Robert Geers Loftis
Robert Geers Loftis is a career member of the United States Foreign Service, former United States Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho, and current Acting Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the United States Department of State. He took up his current post in September 2010,...
, and in his capacity reports directly to the Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
. In addition to 2004 legislation the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
issued its own directive, 3000.05, establishing the importance of civilian operations through policy which was given similar priority to combat operations.
Mission
S/CRS was designed to lead, coordinate and institutionalize U.S. governmentFederal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
civilian capacity to prevent or prepare for post-conflict situations, and to help stabilize and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil strife, so they can reach a sustainable path toward peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
, democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and a market economy
Market economy
A market economy is an economy in which the prices of goods and services are determined in a free price system. This is often contrasted with a state-directed or planned economy. Market economies can range from hypothetically pure laissez-faire variants to an assortment of real-world mixed...
.
Department of Defense Synergy
S/CRS leverages cooperative agreements with organizations such as the National Defense UniversityNational Defense University
The National Defense University is an institution of higher education funded by the United States Department of Defense, intended to facilitate high-level training, education, and the development of national security strategy. It is chartered by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, with Navy Vice Admiral...
, U.S. Army War College
U.S. Army War College
The United States Army War College is a United States Army school located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500 acre campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks...
, Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
and Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
for training and exercises. For operational support the office holds enabling relationships with combatant commands (JFCOM, EUCOM, SOCOM
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
, SOUTHCOM, CENTCOM, PACOM
United States Pacific Command
The United States Pacific Command is a Unified Combatant Command of the United States armed forces responsible for the Pacific Ocean area. It is led by the Commander, Pacific Command , who is the supreme military authority for the various branches of the Armed Forces of the United States serving...
). Humanitarian, stabilization and reconstruction teams interoperate with Defense Department regional combatant commands
Unified Combatant Command
A Unified Combatant Command is a United States Department of Defense command that is composed of forces from at least two Military Departments and has a broad and continuing mission. These commands are established to provide effective command and control of U.S. military forces, regardless of...
to provide unique capabilities for environments at risk of or in conflict. The concepts call for incorporating civilian expertise in military missions from planning to combat operations to stability and reconstruction. Responsibility for operations quickly transitions from the military to the civilian following and during the combat operations stage in preparation for stability and reconstruction. Experts have commented that a goal of the office is to provide the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
with a viable exit strategy for complex operations. Expertise is developed through exercises and training conducted in order to ready civilians and military for complex operations.
Cooperation with the International Community
S/CRS has forged partnerships with leading international organizations and participates and hosts international workshops, dialogues, meetings and training sessions to reach reconstruction and stabilization goals. Key partners include similar institutions in the United Kingdom (the Stabilisation UnitStabilisation Unit
The Stabilisation Unit is an interdepartmental agency of the UK government; it is jointly owned by the FCO, the DFID, and the MOD. It aims to support fragile states and countries emerging from conflict, where close cooperation between international agencies, the military, and civilian personnel is...
) and Canada (the Stabilization and Reconstruction Task Force - START). A source of particular success has historically been the coordination of collective deployments and assessments for conflict prone countries. In consultation with think tanks, non-governmental organizations and reconstruction and stabilization practitioners, the office readies itself through development of concepts and the sharing of best practices. Coordinating strategic planning is conducted in cooperation with international financial institutions, regional organizations in key countries, the United Nations, European Union, G-8, OSCE and NATO.
Examples of past engagements with the International Community:
- United Nations: Coordinated United Nations donor coordination for stabilization and reconstruction through the creation of the Peacebuilding CommissionPeacebuilding CommissionThe Peacebuilding Commission was established in December 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council acting concurrently...
. - European Union: Developed early warning, cross-training, conflict prevention and defined the role of S/CRS as a stability instrument within the New European Democracies Project constabulary initiative.
- International Financial Institutions: Facilitated vehicles to respond to crisis for the World BankWorld BankThe World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programmes.The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty...
and International Monetary FundInternational Monetary FundThe International Monetary Fund is an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world...
. - Organization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeOrganization for Security and Co-operation in EuropeThe Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
: Improved mechanisms to consider stability police increases in coordination with the Center of Excellence for Stability Police UnitsCenter of Excellence for Stability Police UnitsThe Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units is a training center and a doctrinal hub created by the Italian government on the 1st of March 2005, in accordance with the G8 Action Plan “Expanding Global Capability for Peace Support Operations”... - G8G8The Group of Eight is a forum, created by France in 1975, for the governments of seven major economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In 1997, the group added Russia, thus becoming the G8...
: Enhanced international peacekeeping and constabulary capacity and standardized training and equipping processes for regional policing organizations. - NATO: Co-planned stabilization and reconstruction engagements and civilian-military coordination.
Interagency Conflict Assessment Framework
The Interagency Conflict Assessment Framework (ICAF) is a paradigm that is used to help governmental entities, departments and agencies work together to reach a shared understanding of a country’s conflict dynamics and consensus on potential entry points. This assessment provides for a deeper understanding of the underlying conflict dynamics in a country or region and may lead to additional U.S. governmentFederal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
efforts. The ICAF is a recognized component of interagency planning that complements and avoids replicating existing analyses such as instability watch lists, diplomatic reporting and intelligence
Intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in different ways, including the abilities for abstract thought, understanding, communication, reasoning, learning, planning, emotional intelligence and problem solving....
.
The ICAF is a first step within planning, a process that, under the direction of the integrated management system, is a preparatory process combining combatant command multinational headquarters with civilian planning cells. Using whole of government resources the ICAF represents a situational assessment which leads to the formulation of policy advisory memos and statements. A concluding outcome is implementation at the regional military command level incorporating one or more of a variety of actors in theatre including non government organizations, United Nations Missions, or region specific organizations such as the African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
or the Economic Community of West African States
Economic Community of West African States
The Economic Community of West African States is a regional group of fifteen West African countries. Founded on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, its mission is to promote economic integration across the region....
.
Interagency Management System
The Interagency Management System goes into effect when policy is being implemented, missions are being conducted and operations are in an applied state. IMS incorporates unity of action drawing on relevant departments and agencies to perform planning operations, mobilize resources, harmonize efforts with the military and integrate plans and activities. The current three tiered approach consists of a country reconstruction & stabilization group, an integration planning cell and an advance civilian team.- Country Reconstruction & Stabilization Group: A Washington D.C. based counterpart supported by a full-time interagency Secretariat and co-chaired by a National Security CouncilUnited States National Security CouncilThe White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
Director, the Coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization and a State Department regional Assistant Secretary. - Integration Planning Cell: Deployable interagency planners and regional and sector experts tasked with integrating and moderating support between civilian and military agencies.
- Advance Civilian Team: A deployable logistics and interagency management team that supports the chief of mission through developing, executing and monitoring plans.
The goal of IMS is to coordinate efficiently in post-conflict situations. To ensure a level of symmetry and coherency the framework focuses on assisting with and supporting the chief of mission’s decision making processes. The framework relies on academic models and input from the United States Agency for International Development
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development is the United States federal government agency primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid. President John F. Kennedy created USAID in 1961 by executive order to implement development assistance programs in the areas...
has provided a valuable addition creating an interagency methodology to assess instability and conflict. The planning framework has already been used in U.S. interagency planning for Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
, and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, and S/CRS has just begun facilitating interagency planning for Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
.
Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction
The Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction & Stabilization has established a set of baseline principles that can help improve U.S. interagency cooperation, along with cooperation with partners at home and abroad. The principles are introduced in a strategic roadmap for civilians published by the United States Institute of PeaceUnited States Institute of Peace
The United States Institute of Peace was created by Congress as a non-partisan, federal institution that works to prevent or end violent conflict around the world...
and the U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute. The Guiding Principles for Stabilization and Reconstruction is a complementary manual to the U.S. Army’s Field Manual 3-07: Stability Operations, which established the U.S. military’s role in reconstruction and stabilization. The framework identified in the manual offers a critical tool for educating and training the hundreds of officers in the active, standby and reserve components of the U.S. Department of State’s Civilian Response Corps.
The guiding principles manual offers two important contributions: 1) a comprehensive set of shared principles and 2) a shared strategic framework. The strategic framework is the cornerstone of the manual and is based on a validated construct of common end states, necessary conditions and major approaches. It embraces five shared end states for stabilization and reconstruction missions: a safe and secure environment, rule of law, stable governance, a sustainable economy and social well-being.
The manual has been identified as a practical roadmap for helping countries transition from violent conflict to peace. In consultation with NATO planners, British stabilizers, UN peacebuilders and other key partners, the manual’s lead writer, United States Institute of Peace’s Beth Cole approaches the manual’s content as seeking to fill a gap, providing guidance for civilian planners and practitioners that has been identified as being long overdue. The manual contains input of major strategic policy documents from state ministries of defense, foreign affairs and development. The viewpoints of organizations that operate in conflict prone environments are represented and include major intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, indicative of the collaborative efforts required to confront reconstruction and stabilization scenarios.
Whole of Government Planning
A primary responsibility of the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization is to carry out a conflict affected nation’s reconstruction and stabilization efforts and synchronize government agencies through whole of government planning. This process is goal driven, cause and effect based, able to be partitioned, highly structured and measurable. The process also integrates civilian and military capabilities and focuses on strengthening and legitimatizing a host nation’s government.The Department of State’s Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization has been authorized by Congress to oversee the inception and execution of whole of government planning. Current legislation has empowered the office to perform planning processes in foreign states and regions at risk of, in or in transition from conflict. The combined expertise and powers vested in the office allows planning that is flexible, appropriately resourced, strategy-driven, operationally focused and rapidly deployable.
Many of the principles that have been acknowledged as standard procedure are cross cutting principles adopted and modified from military doctrine adapted to the requirements of the United States Government interagency. Implementation models have identified the distinction between military and civilian operations and have incorporated the necessary considerations for operating in environments where the military is not present. While the underlying framework is similar, military and civilian reconstruction and stabilization missions differ on the level of detail, timing and personnel. The framework that describes the specific steps in the planning process includes:
Reconstruction & Stabilization S/CRS Planning
- Situation Analysis: Analyze the current environment for the reconstruction and stabilization operation
- Policy Formulation: Articulate clear policy options which associate risks and benefits
- Strategy Development: Determine how the reconstruction and stabilization operation will address the prioritization, sequencing and cross-sector linkages of efforts
- Implementation: Help agencies analyze programs, track performance and adapt plans