Conflict Prevention Act

(1) better understanding and responding to conflict and supporting peace processes and complex political negotiations will further United States national security and foreign policy interests;

(2) the Department of State should possess an institutional hub to help regional bureaus and embassies efficiently and effectively address violent conflict, peace processes, and complex political negotiations; and

(3) such an institutional hub should be staffed by subject matter experts that can equip United States diplomats in conflict analysis and peace negotiations.

There shall be in the Department of State a Director for Conflict Analysis, Planning, and Prevention, who shall be responsible to the Secretary of State, acting through the Under Secretary for Political Affairs, for matters relating to conflict prevention, mitigation, and negotiations to develop policy options and provide expertise for the Under Secretary of Political Affairs and for the Assistant Secretaries of each regional bureau.

In addition to the responsibilities described under subsection (a), the Director and the Center established under subsection (c) may carry out the following, as appropriate:

(1) Developing advanced analytic methodologies, data, and tools to understand global conflict dynamics, produce conflict trend assessments, and inform the Department’s efforts to prevent and mitigate conflict and crises of top priority to the United States.

(2) Forecasting potential hotspots of violent conflict in foreign countries to best identify risks to United States national security interests or opportunities for advancing United States foreign policy priorities.

(3) Conducting in-depth analyses of conflict dynamics in foreign countries to—

(A) advise regional bureaus on program goals and approaches to burden-sharing with foreign partners; and

(B) provide quantifiable metrics to inform effective use of the Department’s resources.

(4) Supporting peace processes by providing expertise to the Under Secretary of Political Affairs, regional bureaus, and chiefs of mission, to enable and inform peace negotiation and mediation strategies, implementation, and monitoring.

(5) At the direction of the Under Secretary, coordinating with regional and relevant functional bureaus on the implementation of the Global Fragility Act of 2019 (22 U.S.C. 9801 et seq.).

(6) Providing strategic gaming, red team (contrarian-structured analytic techniques to challenge assumptions and test vulnerabilities), and table-top exercises, to rigorously test foreign policy options and strategies.

(7) Supporting the development of training for Foreign Service officers on conflict prevention and mediation skills, including the trainings required under the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018.

(8) Such other functions as the Under Secretary for Political Affairs may designate from time to time.

There shall be in the Department a Center for Conflict Analysis, Planning, and Prevention (in this section referred to as the Center), led by the Director appointed pursuant to the authorization under subsection (a), which shall perform functions related to data analysis and strategic planning on emerging or ongoing foreign conflicts to develop policy options and provide expertise for the Under Secretary of Political Affairs and for the Assistant Secretaries of each regional bureau.

The Under Secretary shall ensure that the Center’s analytic products are disseminated to relevant stakeholders within the Department, as well as other elements of the United States Government, as appropriate.

The Center shall be comprised of not more than 20 full-time Department employees, including a contingent capable of temporary deployments to support embassies—

(1) in conflict-affected regions; or

(2) in regions that the Under Secretary for Political Affairs determines to be at risk of conflict or civil strife.