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Thread: Conflict-Sensitive Approach to Infrastructure Development

  1. #1
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    Default Conflict-Sensitive Approach to Infrastructure Development

    USIP, 1 Jan 07: Conflict-Sensitive Approach to Infrastructure Development
    Summary

    • Infrastructure development is the foundation of a sustainable economy and a means to achieving broader nation-building goals. Providing basic services is critical to security, governance, economic development, and social well-being.

    • U.S. military forces have improved planning and coordination mechanisms and have created doctrine, planning processes, and training exercises that are shared by all branches of the military. This type and level of coordination mechanism is necessary for civilian and military coordination, as well, and progress is starting to be made in this important area.

    • The complexity of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) often results in missed opportunities to act quickly in restoring essential services. Contracting officers are often reluctant to take chances in expediting infrastructure contracts due to concerns about violating the FAR. Simplified contracting, use of smaller projects, and reachback support are three ways to ensure fleeting opportunities are not lost.

    • In conflict-sensitive environments, the condition of infrastructure is often a barometer of whether a society will slip further into violence or make a peaceful transition out of the conflict cycle. The rapid restoration of essential services, such as water, sanitation, and electricity, assists in the perception of a return to normalcy and contributes to the peace process.

    • According to James I. Wasserstrom, head of the Office for Oversight of Publicly-Owned Enterprises (utilities) in the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, infrastructure adds “arms and legs” to strategies aimed at winning “hearts and minds.” Infrastructure is fundamental to moving popular support away from prewar or during-conflict loyalties and to moving spoilers in favor of postwar political objectives.

    • This U.S. Institute of Peace Special Report presents a model that links the infrastructure cycle with conflict analysis. This model is helpful to focus the attention of the infrastructure program planners and implementers on the conflict cycle. In many instances, infrastructure experts approach problems from an engineering perspective.
    Complete 20 page report at the link.

  2. #2
    Council Member Beelzebubalicious's Avatar
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    One of the authors is James Crum who is a vice president at Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. I'm not a DC insider, but I've never heard of them. Just wondering if anyone has and what their rep is....

    Their Web site says "The Van Scoyoc Companies have emerged as preeminent full-service government affairs firms with a national reputation as industry leaders." The companies include:

    Van Scoyoc Associates, Inc. legislative and policy representation
    The Implementation Group, Inc., identification and capture strategies
    for federal grants and contracts
    Capitol Decisions, Inc., healthcare, grass roots advocacy,
    and community development

    and are strategically allied with: Van Scoyoc Kelly PLLC, legal solutions for military and other government contractors and government relations

  3. #3
    Council Member Surferbeetle's Avatar
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    Thumbs up Interesting

    Jedburgh,

    Appeciate the link.

    Steve
    Sapere Aude

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