Report identifies lessons learned for stability, reconstruction operations

The Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) recently released its final report identifying lessons learned in the rebuilding of Iraq. Learning from Iraq: A Final Report From the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction draws on interviews with current and former Iraqi leaders, U.S. policymakers and practitioners, Members of Congress, and others involved in the reconstruction of Iraq.

The report explores the challenges faced by those involved in the various projects and programs during the nine-year reconstruction effort. Learning from Iraq also serves as a follow-up to SIGIR’s previous review, Hard Lessons: The Iraq Reconstruction Experience, and includes lessons learned from SIGIR’s 220 audits, and 170 inspections. SIGIR’s audits of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and the Commander’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) found expected weaknesses, but also revealed progress made by the programs. For example, SIGIR found that PRT success hinged on the performance of the PRT leader, while CERP success depended on limited project scopes and continuity of oversight.

The report reviews civil-military and law enforcement efforts in Iraq, and describes the many ad hoc entities that managed the rebuilding of Iraq, concluding with seven final lessons learned. These lessons involve civil-military planning, security, host-country engagement, management systems, oversight, and the preservation and future use of programs developed in Iraq.

For more information about Learning From Iraq, please follow the link below.
Learning From Iraq: A Final Report From the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction


  • "*" indicates required fields

    SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

    Sign up to receive updates by email. We do not sell or share your info.

    This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.