Failing and disintegrating states pose one of the greatest security challenges of our time. Struggling states can destabilize an entire region and provide an environment conducive to terrorism, crime, narcotics, weapons and human trafficking, and humanitarian catastrophe. Managing conflict, and particularly internal conflict, has consequently become a key feature of U.S. foreign policy. Since 2004, working for the Department of State Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stability (S/CRS), PRO-telligent has provided support to the U.S. government agencies that are chartered to assist in Global Stability by providing “best in class” subject matter experts to help achieve mission success and promote U.S. security interests.

Civilian Response Operations and Conflict Prevention

PRO-telligent has played an important role in a number of Reconstruction and Stabilization (R&S) operations around the world, including critical planning and operations support for the U.S. government’s ongoing country engagements in Kosovo and Afghanistan. In August 2009, PRO-telligent provided Senior Advisor Services to the Commanding General of the Intermediate Joint Command (IJC), NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters for all operations in Afghanistan. In Haiti, PRO-telligent experts spearheaded the design and led on-the-ground implementation of the Haiti Stabilization Initiative. PRO-telligent has also assisted the U.S. government in conducting field assessments and interagency coordination in Nepal, provided conflict assessments in Sri Lanka, and “whole-of-government” planning for post-independence Kosovo. PRO-telligent has helped provide R&S services to the Democratic Republic of Congo to facilitate the extension of state authority to ungoverned areas in eastern Congo currently occupied by armed groups.

Planning

A key component of successful R&S doctrine is adequate planning. PRO-telligent has provided substantial mission support to U.S. government agencies in this critical area, including the production of a “Lessons Learned” analysis of Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) efforts in Iraq and working alongside civilian and military officials to provide support for Civil-Military Planning and Engagement activities. PRO-telligent experts helped develop and implement the R&S Essential Task Matrix for Conflict Transformation to facilitate program planning and initiation. This matrix has proven to be a useful tool to prepare assessments for conflict prevention, response and recovery programs. One extraordinary example of the benefits of effective planning and assessment occurred when PRO-telligent experts deployed to Bangladesh as a part of an S/CRS team. PRO-telligent played a key leadership role by assisting the U.S. Embassy Country Team through a strategic planning process, the validity of which was tested almost immediately by an attempted mutiny by Bangladesh’s border security force. Issues identified in the planning process and assessment phase were, in the words of one observer, all borne out by subsequent events and helped the U.S. and host government work through the crisis. PRO-telligent also provides expert consultation on country assessments and analysis, including solution options, strategy development, and implementation plans and schedules for all areas of conflict prevention and R&S.

Interagency Conflict Assessment Framework (ICAF)

PRO-telligent experts played a crucial role in the development of the Interagency Conflict Assessment Framework, (ICAF). As a member of an interagency team, co-chaired by the Department of State’s Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stability and USAID’s Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation, a PRO-telligent expert helped create a template to foster a “shared understanding” among Federal agencies regarding the sources of conflict. The goal is (a) to develop a common conceptual framework that will guide the collection and analysis of information, and (b) to prepare for interagency planning for conflict prevention, mitigation and stabilization.

The ICAF tool is now used throughout the interagency to guide the collection and analysis of information and prepare for interagency planning for conflict prevention and mitigation, as well as post-conflict stabilization.

Strategic Communication

PRO-telligent plays an important role in the U.S. government’s efforts to communicate with its partners, internal and external stakeholders, the Congress and the American people. PRO-telligent specialists aid and assist in the design, acquisition, modification and evaluation of roundtables, workshops, conferences, and other collaborative efforts with interagency bureaus and offices that advance the U.S. government’s work, and supports the U.S. government’s vigorous outreach strategy through presentations to domestic and international audiences on conflict management and U.S. R&S efforts and contributions.