August 1 - 5, 2005 CSRS conducted an educational game exploring the relationships between armed forces, governmental agencies and non-governmental/international organizations involved in the delivery of humanitarian assistance in conflict zones.

The game included participants from these three communities who role-played their way through a series of fictional scenarios related to the challenges associated with operating in an insecure environment.

The game was conducted by the Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies, conducted for the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the US Department of State, and endorsed by the United States Instititute of Peace.

The setting for the first scenario was a low intensity conflict in which the military was involved in providing security through peacekeeping activities and the NGO/IO community was involved in the delivery of humanitarnian assistance. The setting for the second scenario was a high intensity conflict in which the military was focused on combat operations, and the setting for the third scenario was a transition from high to low intensity conflict with emphasis on stability and reconstruction operations.

In all three scenarios participants focused on the relationships between the various actors and the particular challenges associated with joint planning, task division and information sharing.

Humanitarian Operations During Conflict was the first in what will be a series of educational games exploring the challenges of stabilization and reconstruction activities.

Click here for the Game Report