Reconstruction and Stabilization

Most organizations involved in international development and international affairs face the challenge of operating in extraordinarily difficult environments.  This may involve contributing to the response to a natural or man-made disaster or working in the context of post-conflict or even active conflict situations.  Human needs in these situations are often overwhelming, while at the same time, institutional structures, such as government ministries, commercial entities, and civil society organizations are not functioning or are themselves in transition.   Working successfully in these situations requires a great deal of preparation and forethought, as well as particularly effective coordination and communication. 

TRG’s Role

For over fifteen years, TRG has helped international organizations to function effectively in disaster-stricken and post-conflict situations.  This has included a broad variety of activities including:

  • A multi-faceted training program for US Government personnel across agencies to work effectively in post-conflict settings
  • Training to prepare a cadre of personnel to deploy on short notice in response to emerging international crises
  • Team strengthening and planning programs for project teams working in transitional environments including pre-deployment and mid-deployment sessions and after action reviews
  • Facilitation of a video-conference series connecting administrative staff working in conflict-affected countries
  • Organizational support for USG personnel overseas in the wake of terrorist attacks
  • Provision of stakeholder involvement, training, and facilitation support as part of larger-scale reconstruction activities and projects

We have conducted this work in conflict-affected settings such as Timor Leste, Sudan, Liberia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Examples of Our Experience

State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) Training. TRG has provided curriculum design and training facilitation support of the S/CRS training program that focuses on providing skills and knowledge needed in reconstruction and stabilization (R&S) efforts.  Course participants from State, USAID, and other United States Government departments and agencies either serve as “first responders” or manage programs in transitional environments.  TRG consultants have worked with technical experts from the Department of State, USAID, the Department of Defense, the Department of  Justice and other agencies to identify learning objectives, outline course content, develop case studies, simulations and practical exercises, coach technical experts on making effective and interactive presentations and facilitate effective interactive training programs.  In 2008, TRG was asked to provide additional training to the newly-formed Standy Response Corps. In December 2008, TRG was awarded a contract to design and facilitate multiple deliveries of a 10-day course, Foundations of Interagency Reconstruction and Stabilization Operations, for U.S Government civilian and military employees.

USAID/OTI, Support Which Implements Fast Transitions (SWIFT I and II) ICQ Task Orders. TRG has been a subcontractor to Development Alternatives Inc. under the USAID SWIFT IQCs since 1998.  The purpose of SWIFT is to provide support to field offices of the Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI), in the implementation of timely, tangible and assistance. TRG’s role has been to facilitate OTI project field office start up operations.  TRG has facilitated project start-up, planning, team building and review workshops for OTI programs in Indonesia, Iraq, Indonesia and Timor Leste.

Agricultural Reconstruction and Development of Iraq, ARDI. Under this USAID-funded project, TRG served as a key subcontractor in building public awareness through effective stakeholder participation. TRG helped the Ministry of Agriculture’s working groups on market liberalization and input subsidies policy on the design and implementation stakeholder workshops to solicit the advice of private sector representatives, other ministries, and additional ministry representatives to ensure that any proposed new policies represented a diversity of opinions. Following the stakeholder workshops, the working groups reconvened to finalize implementation plans and/or policy recommendations. 

OFDA Disaster Assessment Skills Workshop. TRG designed and facilitated a series of disaster assessment skills workshops for USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance.  The programs focused on the assessment process, the health, water, sanitation, and agriculture impact of disasters, logistics for disaster management, and communication/media strategies.

World Bank Administrative and Client Support Staff Project. Working with internal World Bank staff TRG designed and facilitated a video-conference learning series for the Bank’s Administrative and Client Support (ACS) Staff working in conflict-affected countries.  The series brought together staff from countries at different stages of conflict, specifically Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.  During the video conferences staff shared lessons and challenges related to job performance, security and safety, work-life balance, communications, occupational health and stress, and other issues.  Key learnings and recommendations were captured by the TRG team and published for use by Bank staff worldwide.