Civil-Military Relations in Humanitarian Operations
| Date | Friday, November 4, 2005 |
| Location | Dirksen Senate Room 406 |
Mike Hess, Assistant Administrator, US Agency for International Development, and Roy Williams, President, Center for Humanitarian Cooperation, will join us for a discussion on civil-military relations in humanitarian operations, drawing on the experiences of Provincial Reconstruction Teams and the lessons from Afghanistan. Since 9/11 the US military has become increasingly involved in humanitarian operations, particularly in Afghanistan, as it attempts to win hearts and minds by establishing Provincial Reconstruction Teams and emphasizing the work of Civil Affairs. However, these innovations have sometimes complicated the work of NGOs and aid workers which is based on the premise of independence and neutrality. These confused environments pose serious challenges in terms of providing security, planning, assessment and coordination between NGOs, aid organizations and the military. What role should the military play in humanitarian operations? Can joint civil-military efforts be developed without compromising the value-added each brings to the process? How can we expand these lessons to apply to future civil-military operations and build integrated responses?