Rebuilding war-torn countries is fraught with challenges and difficulties. What needs to be done, how best to do it, and who should carry the tasks out is different in each case. How can policy makers identify, organise and prioritise tasks in order to best achieve reconstruction and lasting peace?
This joint paper from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) presents a framework to enable strategic planning for reconstruction. The framework focuses on what needs to be done, not on how to, or who should, do it. The conditions of countries emerging from violent conflict are unique, therefore there is no ‘blueprint’ for reconstruction. However, the framework attempts to lay out the choices that face policymakers, which can then be used as appropriate. Tasks are organised into three conceptual phases, defined as ‘initial response’ (establishing basic security and stability), ‘transformation’ (developing the economy, good governance, and foundations for reconciliation), and ‘fostering sustainability’ (consolidation and hand-over). The framework is envisaged as a starting point and aid for strategic policy-making, not a plan or checklist of ‘must-do’s.
The authors identify the tasks of assessment, coordination, training and funding as important crosscutting issues. These are placed outside the conceptual remit of the framework because they relate to the ‘how’ and ‘who’ of reconstruction. Four ‘pillars’ of reconstruction are identified as the basis for the framework. These are:
- Security. It is vital to establish a safe and secure environment, and develop legitimate and stable security institutions.
- Justice and reconciliation. Fair laws that are effectively enforced, an open judicial system, humane corrections, and mechanisms for resolving conflict are essential for dealing with past abuses and reconciliation.
- Social and economic well-being. It is necessary to provide emergency relief, and then lay the foundations for a viable economy in order to meet people’s most basic needs.
- Governance and participation. Rules and procedures must be established for political decision-making, efficient public service delivery, and to give civil society a stake in forming policy.
The necessity of creating a strategic planning process that gives ownership to the indigenous actors through their participation is stressed. Policy pointers arising from this framework include:
- The necessity of strong external support for war-torn societies in the initial response stage. Such support provides the safety needed to begin building trust among disparate and opposing elements of society for sustainable peace.
- The ‘four pillars’ are interlinked. Planned relief and development interventions should encompass elements from all four.
- Enough resources need to be made available to achieve desired outcomes. Accurate assessment of the unique and particular conditions that apply to the country in question is essential to allocating resources and achieving framework tasks.
- What is not covered by the framework is as important as what is included in it. Policy makers need to be aware of the implications of who they deal with and how interventions are carried out in order to avoid exacerbating or re-igniting conflict.
