Reconstruction and Stabilization Essential Tasks

PREFACE

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This is a “living” document.  It serves as a tool for planners and will continue to evolve as it is used.  The tables in this document catalog the results of interagency working group discussions led by S/CRS about the requirements to support countries in transition from armed conflict or civil strife to sustaining stability. This document builds on the “Joint CSIS/AUSA Post-Conflict Reconstruction (PCR) Task Framework” from Winning the Peace:  An American Strategy for Post-Conflict Reconstruction, edited by Robert C. Orr, and published by CSIS Press in 2004.

We want to acknowledge and reaffirm the thorough research that is reflected in Winning the Peace.  It was the baseline S/CRS used at its inception to lead six interagency working groups through a discussion and amplification of the task matrix.  As noted in Winning the Peace: “Countries emerge from conflict under differing and unique conditions.  Therefore, the priority, precedence, timing, appropriateness, and execution of tasks will vary from case to case” (page 305).  We recognize it is unlikely there will be unanimity regarding the assignment of all tasks into their respective short, mid and long-term expectations.  We further recognize that while we have attempted to assign priority to the sequencing of tasks, it will greatly depend upon the local environment.  Subsequent updates of this document will undoubtedly show revisions of tasks and timelines.

After several months of interagency discussion, we have divided the original CSIS/AUSA task framework into five technical sectors (security, governance and participation, humanitarian assistance and social well-being, economic stabilization and infrastructure, and justice and reconciliation) and significantly expanded the list.  In addition, we have identified sectoral tasks that have an infrastructure implication with both a parenthetical (I) preceding the task and gray shading.  Essential tasks are divided into Initial Response (short-term), Transformation (mid-term), and Fostering Sustainability (long-term) conceptual phases.  While some may believe the list is overly ambitious, its purpose is to provide a menu of issues that should be considered when working in conflict-stricken countries.  The task matrix is designed to be a tool for those involved in comprehensive planning, and S/CRS therefore strove for comprehensiveness and clarity in what needs to be planned.

Many tasks are cross-cutting and require planners to reference other sectors.  While we have cross-referenced some of the tasks in the matrix, we have intentionally limited the cross-referencing in order to avoid creating a cumbersome planning tool.  As a result, users of the framework should review tasks in other sectors to ensure issues are considered comprehensively.  With experience, we trust future updates will address the interrelationships between tasks more elegantly.

Finally, although S/CRS led this process out of the State Department, the framework is a U.S. Government interagency product.  Not only did we rely on interagency staff members to contribute their expertise, we also drew on the depth of experience in their respective parent agencies to bring more thoroughness to this task matrix.  We are grateful to all those who contributed.

As a “living” document, we welcome suggestions to improve this tool.  Please send your comments to SCRSMATRIX@state.gov.

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