Provincial Reconstruction Teams' Performance Measurement Process Has Improved

Abstract

Abstract : Since October 2006 SIGIR has issued three reports examining the status, expansion, and effectiveness of Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRT) and embedded Provincial Reconstruction Teams (ePRTs) in Iraq. Those reports recommended that the U.S. Mission-Iraq and Multi-National Forces-Iraq (MNF-I) establish a performance measurement system with clear objectives, performance measures, and milestones for the PRTs. SIGIR's objectives for this audit were to review the PRT program and answer these general questions: 1) Have program objectives and performance measures or metrics been established? 2) What is the status of future program plans in relation to the reduction in U.S. military forces? 3) Are lessons learned being captured that could be useful in other contingencies? 4) What actions have been taken based SIGIR's prior recommendations? SIGIR recommends that the Ambassador direct the Director of the Office of Provincial Affairs (OPA) to update the Planning and Assessment User Guide to clarify roles and responsibilities of OPA's Plans and Assessments Cell; and a process for the desk officers to account for all required PRT or ePRT submissions. We recommend that the Ambassador work jointly with the Commander, MNF-I to update the PRT close out strategy to take into account the impact of U.S. troop reduction plans In commenting on a draft of this report, OPA concurred with recommendations to clarify the roles and responsibilities of OPA's Plans and Assessments Cell, and to establish a process to account for all required PRT or ePRT submissions. OPA did not concur with our recommendation to synchronize the PRT close-out strategy with U.S. troop reduction plans. SIGIR agreed and modified the recommendation to say that the close-out strategy should take into account the impact of U.S. troop reductions. MNF-I provided comments and concurred that the PRT program should recognize the reduction in U.S. troops in its transition plans.