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Frequently Asked Questions

July 15, 2008

Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization
July 15, 2008

Q: Why was S/CRS created?

The mission of S/CRS is to lead, coordinate and institutionalize U.S. Government 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 towards peace, democracy and a market economy. The office, created in July 2004, is composed of an 88 member interagency staff, including 11 Active members of the Civilian Response Corps. S/CRS uses the Interagency Management System to organize the USG civilian response. This whole-of-government planning framework utilizes the Essential Task Matrix and compiles best practices for Reconstruction and Stabilization (R&S), developing common R&S training for civilians and the military.

Q: What is NSPD 44?

The President issued National Security Presidential Directive 44: Management of Interagency Efforts Concerning Stabilization and Reconstruction, on December 7, 2005, in response to the recognized need for whole-of-government planning and response to crises abroad. The goal of NSPD 44 is to promote the security of the United States through improved coordination, planning and implementation of stabilization and reconstruction assistance. NSPD 44 empowers the Secretary of State to lead and coordinate the U.S. government response across all involved agencies, and to work with the Secretary of Defense to harmonize civilian and military activities. The Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) in the Department of State facilitates this.

Q: What is the Interagency Management System?

The Interagency Management System for Reconstruction and Stabilization (IMS) is designed to provide policymakers in Washington, Chiefs of Mission (COMs), and military commanders with flexible tools to achieve:

• Integrated planning processes for unified USG strategic and implementation plans, including funding requests;
• Joint interagency field deployments; and
• A joint civilian operations capability including shared communications and information management.

The IMS is composed of the Country Reconstruction & Stabilization Group (CRSG), the Integration Planning Cell (IPC), and the Advance Civilian Team (ACT).

CRSG Policy formulation is led by the Country Reconstruction & Stabilization Group. The CRSG consists of a Washington-based interagency decision-making body, supported by a full-time interagency Secretariat that performs planning and operations functions and mobilizes resources. The CRSG is co-chaired by the Regional Assistant Secretary of State for the country in question, the S/CRS Coordinator, and the appropriate National Security Council Senior Director.

IPC The Integration Planning Cell consists of interagency planners and regional and sectoral experts who deploy to the relevant Geographic Combatant Command or multinational headquarters to assist in harmonizing ongoing planning and operations between civilian and military agencies and/or the USG and multinational HQ.

ACT The Advance Civilian Team supports the Chief of Mission (Ambassador) in the field to develop, execute, and monitor plans. The ACT provides interagency field management, deployment, and logistics capabilities, developing and implementing activities through regional field teams.

Q: What is the Civilian Stabilization Initiative?

The Civilian Stabilization Initiative is a $248.6 million request in the FY2009 budget submitted to Congress by the Administration, with the objective of strengthening civilian capacity to manage and implement R&S activities. The Initiative includes funds for the Civilian Response Corps (Active, Standby and Reserve components) across eight civilian agencies.

Active The Active component of the Civilian Response Corps is composed of USG staff trained and ready to deploy to the field in 48-72 hours. It provides rapid response capacity to assess the situation, design the USG response, and begin R&S implementation.

Standby The Standby component is composed of current USG employees who have ongoing job responsibilities but volunteer to be trained and available for deployments in case of need. Standby members are deployable within 30 days for up to 180 days.

Reserve Members of the Reserve component would be volunteers from outside the federal government, but would become USG employees when mobilized. They would be fully trained and deployable in 45-90 days to provide sector-specific expertise.

In the 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act, Congress provided initial funding for the Active and Standby components of the Corps. If fully funded in FY2009, the Civilian Stabilization Initiative would create an Active component of 250 members, a Standby component of 2000, and a 2000-member Reserve.

Q: What is the purpose of Whole-of-Government planning for Reconstruction and Stabilization?

Whole-of-Government Reconstruction and Stabilization planning is undertaken in support of achieving “conflict transformation” in the specified country or region. The goal of conflict transformation is to reach the point where the country or region is on a sustainable positive trajectory and where it is able to address, on its own, the dynamics causing instability and conflict. This requires simultaneously building local institutional capacity while reducing the sources of instability and conflict, all during the two to three year window of opportunity when resources and political will are most available. One fundamental principle of conflict transformation is that, over the longer term, the host nation must develop its own capacity to ensure stability and conditions for economic growth – those conditions cannot be imposed from outside.

Q: Why does the Planning Process focus on a 2-3 year timeframe?

We have designed the planning process to focus on identifying the maximum that can be achieved in the first 2-3 years – the period during which there is typically intense international attention and a heavy flow of resources. This does not mean that the international community should depart at the end of three years. However, our planning process must strive to create conditions as quickly as possible where the host country can take the lead in overseeing its political, economic, and security institutions, supported by the international community. Two to three years is not sufficient to address every problem, nor to build the local ownership that is key to long-term sustainability. However, by forcing ourselves to respond better throughout those initial 2-3 years, we improve our chances a country will be able to take the lead in their transition.