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Failing or failed states and those emerging from conflict pose one of today's greatest security challenges. Based on trends over the last decade, the United States must have the capacity to manage, together with its international partners, concurrent stabilization and reconstruction operations (S&R) at any given time.
In July 2004, the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) was established to coordinate civilian efforts to enhance interagency coordination, prevent or mitigate conflict. The office was created to lead U.S. planning efforts for countries and regions of most concern, and coordinate the deployment of U.S. resources when needed. Within the 2006 Budget a $100 million Conflict Response Fund was proposed to strengthen S/CRS. For fiscal 2007, the US requested $770 million in reconstruction funds - and a House committee has trimmed that by $200 million pending final passage. USAID has spent 3.3 billion on fixing schools, vaccinating millions of children, restoring electricity and created Iraq’s first democratic councils. In addition, Secretary Gordon England released the DOD 3000.05 on 28th November 2005 identifying the priority of DOD to plan, train and prepare to conduct and support stability operations. The prevention and management of internal conflict in these destabilized regions has become a key focus for the US government.
The 2nd Annual Reconstruction and Stabilization conference will focus on the crucial importance of streamlining reconstruction and stabilization efforts by optimizing interagency coordination and cooperation. Briefings will explore how to maximize US resources and capabilities, and coordinate these capabilities with international partners. Attention will also be paid to efforts in measuring progress within stability operations and showcasing varying success stories from different regions in an effort to identify ‘best practices’ and coalesce them into an integrated US strategic framework plan for future reconstruction and stability operations. In an effort to effectively train the indigenous regions to build the capacity for self-sufficient governance, economic growth and effective security sector reform, focus will be placed on current training and education of the military and civilian assets to manage and mitigate conflict issues, thus effectively managing the transition of security to a stabilized environment.
There will be a pre-conference master class, which will take a look at Diplomacy, Defense, Development: Coordinating Future Pre and Post Stability Operations. The workshop will discuss how the different components of a peace operation can make use of government and non-government components of the mission. It will focus on the importance of an explicit approach linking the Defense, Development and Diplomatic Communities in designing comprehensive programs to the significant challenges as a “coordinated” effort to build the capacity for future stability operations.
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