How might we develop a framework for assessing the effectiveness of conflict prevention initiatives?

Fragile states cultivate an environment where continuous conflict is experienced among local populations, causing millions of people to endure the consequences of poor governance. In 2019, the U.S. government passed the Global Fragility Act to address and prevent the root causes of violence and fragility in prioritized countries through a ten-year-long strategy. Considering previous efforts, the U.S. Department of State will lead the strategy and implement a whole-of-government approach, requiring coordination between U.S. government agencies, international organizations, local officials, and other stakeholders.

Considering the goals of the GFA, the U.S. Department of State must identify and implement a robust and flexible long-term strategic plan for conflict prevention and stabilization initiatives. The need for this project is to answer the following: What are the best practices for long-term (ten-year) strategic planning in the context of conflict prevention and stabilization, and how do we apply these to U.S. government processes with respect to the GFA? Through key informant interviews and focus groups, our team will aim to pinpoint and outline these best practices in a comprehensive report, highlighting processes that will improve the U.S. government’s effectiveness in fragile states and the future institutionalization of such strategies.