CSO evaluates two years of engagement

Last week, the State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) published a report detailing CSO’s efforts in its two years in existence. CSO was established in 2011 to improve the effectiveness and coherence of the U.S. government in conflict situations, and breaks cycles of violence through locally grounded analysis that focuses on a top-priority opportunity to address conflict.

CSO set three goals when it began: 1) make and impact in three or four countries important to the United States; 2) build a respected team of trusted partnerships; and 3) be innovative and agile. These goals would be met by working with other State Department and interagency partners to understand conflict.

The report details many examples of CSO’s success in addressing conflict in for top-priority countries, including CSO’s contribution to more peaceful elections in Kenya and Honduras, and CSO’s role in generating defections from the Lord’s Resistance Army. The report also cites partnerships with host governments, civil society, NGOs, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, and other bureaus within the State Department as being beneficial to CSO’s mission.

For more information about CSO and their report, please follow the links below.
CSO at Two Years: Engaging Around the World, U.S. Department of State
State Department Establishes New Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, Simons Center