During the past decade, the United States has faced a series of conflicts that threaten regional and international stability, and that are best dealt with through humanitarian and peacekeeping operations. Ethnic conflict, civil unrest, natural disasters, and extreme poverty are often the source of heightened tensions. These conditions can lead to complex foreign crises that involve political, economic, and social dimensions in addition to traditional military concerns. These crises not only involve varied considerations, but numerous responders, such as the US and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and international entities.

Within the US government, executive departments and agencies have distinct capabilities, mandates, and cultures that impact their involvement in these operations. During times of international conflict and instability, the differences among these departments and agencies can be one of the greatest obstacles to successful interagency planning and cooperation, which is necessary for a timely and effective response. In complex emergencies, where chaos, ambiguity, and uncertainty dominate the environment, failure to appreciate the need for integrated effort can lead to duplication of effort, gaps in the provision of goods and services, and outright hostility.

In order to address the changing nature of conflict and better prepare government officials to deal with complex foreign crises, the Contingency Planning Policy Coordination Committee (CPPCC) of the National Security Council has designated the National Defense University (NDU) as the lead agent for interagency training, education, and after action review. In accordance with its mandate, NDU is developing an educational program for US government executives, in the area of multi-Agency and Department planning and coordination for overseas emergencies. In support of US national interests and objectives, the ITEA program serves as a national focal point for innovation in education, research, and gaming that addresses the interagency response to such crises.

Building on a survey of the Washington-based interagency community, research on the roles of non-governmental and international organizations, and an examination of possible curriculum requirements and delivery methodologies, the ITEA program is developing three educational modules - components, process, and environment. Each module consists of specific topics based on broader learning objectives. The components module will include an overview of the responsibilities and limitations of executive departments and agencies, as well as forms of formal and informal interaction throughout the planning process. The process module will examine the interagency planning process (theoretical versus actual), including lessons learned. The environment module will analyze the current global environment, in terms of integration and transnational threats, and its impact on US policies.

The ITEA program's delivery methodology will primarily include seminars that consist of facilitated classroom discussion, lectures from subject matter experts, and strategic policy exercises that allow participants to simulate interagency planning and coordination in a non-threatening environment. Target training audiences include those initially assigned to interagency planning positions, individuals who could benefit from refresher courses (created as the environment adapted to a changing reality), working groups responsible for "just in time" planning of projects of an immediate nature, and newly appointed office directors and more senior executives through- out the Washington based community. Training for personnel in interagency planning positions would include members of the newly created Joint Interagency Coordination Groups (JIACG) that are located at each regional command. In working with this audience, the ITEA program seeks to demonstrate the link between policy work in the Washington, D.C. environment with actual implementation at the Joint Combatant Command and Country Team levels.

A curriculum overview was provided to executive department/agency points-of-contact at a forum at NDU in mid-September 2002, for their review and comment. As revised, this educational program was offered to the interagency community as an introductory two-day class in November 2002.

In addition, a program of after action review will enhance the learning process through the evaluation of responses to complex contingencies and the development of "lessons learned" that are incorporated into the curriculum for interagency planning and coordination. Currently, the ITEA program is engaged in an after action review of Operation FOCUS RELIEF, the US led effort to equip and train seven West African battalions to serve as peacekeepers in Sierra Leone. Future plans include a review of military operations in Afghanistan.

While the primary focus of the ITEA program is interagency cooperation within the executive branch of government, actors within the US government are also simultaneously working with non-governmental organizations, adding yet another dimension to planning and coordination. Humanitarian and peace operations require resources that often extend beyond the capabilities of the US government. There are many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that focus on disaster relief and humanitarian assistance as their primary mission. Furthermore, these NGOs are often operating in trouble areas prior to US government involvement and remain after the government departs, to assist with recovery and sustainable development. In formulating its response, the US must account for the presence of organizations that plan and respond to foreign crises independently of governments. In order to represent real world conditions, a comprehensive system of interagency education needs to incorporate NGO needs and capabilities.

To this end, the ITEA program has teamed with the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (COE-DMHA), the Center for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CDMHA), and Interaction to produce a video on civil-military cooperation. The video addresses the role of NGOs in foreign crises and the process of interaction between national governments and their NGO counterparts. This video will be used in the ITEA curriculum to expose US government executives to the culture, values, characteristics and operating procedures of the broad spectrum of non-governmental organizations responding to complex foreign crises. This information will enhance the ability of US government planners to coordinate with NGOs, particularly US-based NGOs, taking advantage of their expertise and resources to formulate a more integrated and effective response to complex emergencies.

For more information on the ITEA program please visit www.theinteragency.org or contact Gloria Paris at 202-685-4697.

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