Interagency Planning

Today's environment of multi-faceted global threats requires American military, diplomatic, and development professionals to be able to work in an interagency setting. The U.S. military is taking an increasing role in areas that would traditionally be reserved for civilian agencies and NGOs. While the military has significant resources at their disposal and increasing experience working to rebuild countries, it can benefit from utilizing the unique expertise of civilian agencies. Likewise, civilian development professionals could greatly benefit from increased knowledge of military culture and approach to stability operations. This requires additional skills in interagency planning and joint post-conflict stabilization programming.

Effective civilian-military integration is challenging. Different organizational cultures, values, and sensitivities to risk create obstacles to cooperation. Misunderstandings about methods of operation, timelines, and authority can create friction. Managing expectations, on both the military and civilian sides, is crucial to success. Fully integrating military and civilian agencies down to the tactical level, however, can enhance operational effects and speed the process of creating stability.

Development Transformations offers training in best practices and lessons-learned from civilian development professionals who have field experience with interagency operations. Civilians need to understand how they add value and where they can influence input into military planning and operations. Likewise, the military can benefit from civilian perspectives. Contact us to learn how we can help with interagency cooperation, interagency operations, and interagency planning