Working Group ( WG ) 5 focused on developing a common curriculum to improve interagency planning and collaboration in the area of Stability Operations , with an emphasis on design , level of planning ( strategic / operational ), ownership , delivery and assessment . The diverse WG members consisted of representatives from the U . S . Military , Foreign Service , Academic Institutions , and NGOs . The WG objective was to establish an introductory program and continuing education initiative that benefits all participants regardless of branch or governmental background , while improving collaboration in the interagency space .
All WG participants acknowledged weaknesses in interagency collaboration , most frequently the result of stove-piping , differing organizational concepts of development , and a lack of adequate communication and collaboration . Many WG members indicated solutions to some interagency challenges already exist , but that the knowledge and products are not being adequately propagated , endorsed and communicated to intergovernmental partners . Intergovernmental trainers do not yet have access to a central catalogue of all interagency collaboration policies , doctrine , education , and training resources .
The WG agreed that the new course and curriculum should teach communication strategies for lateral interaction across agencies , and include information about agencies or other organizational actors in the collaborative space , such as their motivations , cultures , capacities , methodologies , and tendencies . The course should also address varied approaches to interagency and intergovernmental collaboration . One potential method for understanding the capabilities and operational capabilities of another organization is to participate in a reverse identity role play scenario . In such an exercise , each learner plays the role of another interagency partner , and they are expected to represent that organization ’ s equities . These mutually reinforcing elements will provide participants the opportunity to immediately practice new skills learned from baseline material . longer-term channels for collaboration , education , and training . The group produced a proposal for a week-long course , which focuses on introductory planning at the interagency level . The group also decided to use monthly virtual seminars as a continuing education component , furthering the foundational planning concepts presented in the interagency curriculum . The seminars can be accessed remotely by all members in the enduring community .
Several group members committed to delivering monthly seminars , with wide-ranging topics related to interagency collaboration in stability operations , such as :
• Borneo Case Study
• Political Transitions ( including armed actors )
• Role of Country Team in Interagency Planning
• Gender and Peacebuilding
• Village Stability Operations in Afghanistan
Dr . Volker Franke conducted the first monthly virtual seminar on June 28th , providing participants guidelines and insights on writing and teaching case studies . Video of the lecture and accompanying slides are available on WG5 ’ s Blackboard site , which serves as a repository of information and a communication venue for the community moving forward .
In designing curriculum , WG participants also agreed on the need for training via multiple touchpoints over a career , but focused on making immediate progress via establishing a curriculum guide and one course on interagency collaboration . The WG chose mid-level practitioners ( 5-12 years of experience working in or with government ) as the initial target audience — an audience with sufficient experience and background to both contribute to others ’ learning and absorb others ’ knowledge .
During the PSOTEW workshop , the group expanded its intended outcome to include “ creating an enduring and expanding community of interest for interagency collaboration ,” focusing not only on designing a new course , but also establishing
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