Priorities

The National Security Strategy released in December 2017 states that the  U.S. government has a national security interest in addressing conflict  and instability in fragile and failing nations. Agencies and USIP Conduct Various Efforts to Prevent and Mitigate Violent Conflict and Stabilize Conflict- Affected Areas Abroad

State, USAID, DOD, and USIP reported that they have conducted a  variety of efforts in Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria aimed at preventing and  mitigating violent conflicts and stabilizing areas affected by such  conflicts. Medical  Staff of the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command— Operation Inherent Resolve provided immediate medical trauma  supplies to the World Health Organization to fill a gap in medical  supplies available to treat injured civilians. Agencies and USIP Have Incorporated Aspects of Key Collaboration Practices for Their Conflict Prevention, Mitigation, and Stabilization Efforts but Have Not Documented Their Agreement

State, USAID, DOD, and, where appropriate, USIP have incorporated  aspects of key collaboration practices to coordinate their conflict  prevention, mitigation, and stabilization efforts for Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria. The agencies have individually and jointly established some  common outcomes for stabilization efforts in Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria. During the course of our review,  State, USAID, and DOD released the SAR, which identified areas where  U.S. government coordination for stabilization efforts in conflict-affected  areas could be improved; however, the agencies have not documented  their agreement as to how they will coordinate these efforts in formal  written guidance and agreements that address key collaboration  practices. Finally, at a global-level, State, USAID, and DOD have identified a need  to improve the outcomes and accountability of U.S. stabilization efforts. Interagency Groups

State, USAID, and DOD have established various interagency groups to  coordinate their efforts for Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria. State  and DOD officials also said that the NSC convenes interagency actors,  including State, USAID, and DOD, to discuss high-level issues in these  areas. According to key practices for enhancing interagency  collaboration, articulating agreements in formal documents can  strengthen collaborative efforts, and reduce the potential for  fragmentation, overlap, and duplication. Specifically:
The Secretary of State, in collaboration with the Administrator of the  U.S. Agency for International Development and the Secretary of  Defense, should document their agreement on coordination for U.S.  stabilization efforts through formal written guidance and agreements  that address key collaboration practices such as defining outcomes  and accountability and clarifying roles and responsibilities for U.S.  stabilization efforts. (Recommendation 2)
The Secretary of Defense, in collaboration with the Administrator of  the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Secretary of  State, should document their agreement on coordination for U.S.  stabilization efforts through formal written guidance and agreements  that address key collaboration practices such as defining outcomes  and accountability and clarifying roles and responsibilities for U.S.  stabilization efforts. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

This report (1) describes examples of conflict prevention, mitigation, and  stabilization efforts that U.S. agencies and the U.S. Institute of Peace  (USIP) conducted in Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria and their goals in fiscal year  2017 and (2) examines the extent to which U.S. agencies and USIP  incorporated key collaboration practices to coordinate their efforts. To describe examples of conflict prevention, mitigation, and stabilization  efforts that U.S. agencies and USIP conducted in Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria  and their goals in fiscal year 2017, we collected, synthesized, and  summarized information from State, USAID, DOD, and USIP. The FFS works in areas liberated from the  Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—another name for ISIL—to restore essential  services and kick-start the local economy.
Why GAO Did This Study

The United States has a national security interest in promoting stability in conflict-affected countries to prevent or mitigate the consequences of armed conflict, according to the 2017 National Security Strategy. State, USAID, and DOD have reported that a collaborative government approach is an essential part of maximizing the effectiveness of U.S. efforts in conflict-affected areas.
GAO was asked to review U.S. conflict prevention, mitigation, and stabilization efforts abroad. This report (1) describes examples of conflict prevention, mitigation, and stabilization efforts that U.S. agencies and USIP conducted in Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria and their goals in fiscal year 2017 and (2) examines the extent to which U.S. agencies and USIP incorporated key collaboration practices to coordinate their efforts. GAO collected data from the agencies and USIP on their efforts and goals in Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria. GAO selected these countries based on U.S. national security interests, among other criteria. GAO reviewed agency and USIP documents, interviewed officials, and conducted fieldwork in Iraq, Nigeria, and Jordan. GAO assessed coordination against key practices identified by GAO to enhance interagency collaboration.

What GAO Found

The Departments of State (State) and Defense (DOD), the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP)—an independent, federally funded institute—reported conducting various efforts to address conflict prevention, mitigation, and stabilization for Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria in fiscal year 2017. For example, in Iraq, State supported efforts to remove improvised explosive devices from homes and infrastructure (see figure); USAID contributed to the United Nations to restore essential services; DOD provided immediate medical trauma supplies to the World Health Organization to treat injured civilians; and USIP conducted facilitated dialogs to enable local reconciliation in areas liberated from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
In conducting U.S. conflict prevention, mitigation, and stabilization efforts, State, USAID, DOD, and USIP have addressed aspects of key collaboration practices such as elements of bridging organizational cultures and leadership. However, the agencies have not formally documented their agreement on coordination for U.S. stabilization efforts through formal written guidance and agreements that address key collaboration practices. GAO found the following, for example, with regard to the extent key collaboration practices have been used by these entities.
Bridging organizational cultures: U.S. agencies have established various mechanisms to coordinate their efforts, such as interagency working groups and staff positions focused on coordination. USIP convenes interagency actors, including State, USAID, and DOD through various programs and events.
Defining outcomes and accountability: One or more agencies have established some common outcomes and accountability mechanisms for their stabilization efforts in Iraq, Nigeria, and Syria. Moreover, through an interagency review of U.S. stabilization assistance, State, USAID, and DOD identified a need to develop an outcome-based political strategy outlining end states for U.S. stabilization efforts and strategic analytics to track and measure progress, among other needs.
Written guidance and agreements: Although State, USAID, and DOD have developed a framework for stabilization, they have not documented their agreement on the key collaboration practices identified, such as defining outcomes and accountability and clarifying roles and responsibilities. According to key practices for enhancing interagency collaboration, articulating agreements in formal documents can strengthen collaborative efforts, and reduce the potential for duplication, overlap, and fragmentation.

What GAO Recommends

State, USAID, and DOD should document agreement on their coordination for U.S. stabilization efforts though formal written guidance and agreements addressing key collaboration practices. The agencies concurred with the recommendations.