A Framework to Assess Programs for Building Partnerships
Abstract
Security cooperation activities conducted by DoD entities with other nations' defense organizations range from the very visible - training, equipping, and exercising together - to those that are less obvious, such as holding bilateral talks. Yet, it is often challenging to determine if these activities have contributed to U.S. objectives and if so, by how much or in what ways. Because security cooperation is both dispersed and long-term, it is difficult to measure. At present, program assessments are inconsistent and of varying quality. They may lack objectivity since they are frequently conducted by the organizations that implement the programs. A comprehensive framework for assessing is lacking, although efforts are in place to remedy that deficiency. This RAND Corporation monograph is designed to assist the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (OUSD/P) in its efforts to develop an approach for assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of Department of Defense (DoD) security cooperation programs around the world. Specifically, the monograph outlines an assessment framework that can enhance OUSD/P's ability to determine which partnership capacity programs and activities are achieving the desired effects as defined in the guidance documents, and how. This assessment framework is built around five themes that emerged at an assessment workshop hosted by RAND in May 2008: setting direction, designing assessments, preparing for assessment, conducting assessments, and explaining assessments to others. The monograph will assist OUSD/P in refining its security cooperation program assessment guidance to the combatant commands (COCOMs), defense agencies, and services. It is meant to provide an assessment structure for OUSD/P, one specifically useful for the Building Partner Capacity (BPC) program, in addition to the broader security cooperation programs that are managed directly by OUSD/P.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA496473
Entities
People
- Cathryn Q. Thurston
- Gregory F. Treverton
- Jefferson P. Marquis
- Jennifer D.P. Moroney
Organizations
- RAND Corporation