Improving Metrics for the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program (2012) / Chapter Skim
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Appendix C: National Research Council Reports Directly Relevant to Cooperative Threat Reduction
Appendix C: National Research Council Reports Directly Relevant to Cooperative Threat Reduction
Pages 93-100
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From page 93... ...
The report argues that there is a widespread latent interest in S&T in all of USAID's partner countries and that expanding staff capabilities from a few dozen to a few hundred would have a dramatic impact in harnessing U.S. S&T in the service of international development.
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From page 94... ...
There were a total of 23 discovered thefts in 1993 and 1994, but zero in 1995 and 1996 from the facilities of the Russian Federation Ministry of Atomic Energy. Also, subsequent reports emphasized the importance of obtaining data on the number of nuclear security violations reported by Russian inspectors of nuclear facilities as indicators of program effectiveness.
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From page 95... ...
In a 2007 report prepared for the DOE titled U.S.-Russian Collaboration in Combating Radiological Terrorism, the NRC identified six key metrics for judging the effectiveness of Russian efforts in reducing both the terrorism and radiological safety aspects of inadequately controlled sources. They were: • quantification and characterization of existing inventories • prioritization of source recovery requirements and security enhancements • enhancement of security at user facilities, during transportation, and at temporary storage sites • enhancement of final disposition capabilities • development and implementation of management systems for improved accountability • development and implementation of research and development priorities in support of the foregoing activities The report recognized the enormous difficulties and long timelines involved in making measurable progress in reaching each of these goals.
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From page 96... ...
• National security benefits: confidence-building, reducing incentives for proliferation, leading to opportunities for dismantlement of biological weapons BW capabilities, enhancing capabilities to combat terrorism • Public health benefits: improved understanding of characteristics of pathogens that threaten public health; strengthened capabilities to prevent, diagnose, and treat outbreaks of infectious diseases; and enhanced national and international communications concerning disease trends and outbreaks • Economic benefits: stabilizing Russian institutes, providing opportunities for U.S. private sector investments in Russia, and leveraging limited national financial resources • Scientific benefits: enhanced knowledge about pathogenesis and increased international availability of research results Eight pilot research proposals were selected by the NRC authoring committee for financial support by the DoD, according to the following criteria which were to provide the basis for the metrics used to judge success of the specific projects: • scientific importance of the topic • quality of the proposal • quality or capacity of the principal investigator, research team, and facilities • provision for strong U.S.
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From page 97... ...
The key metrics measure long-term, not short-term, progress and therefore they must be fully embraced by the host countries. The Biological Threat Reduction Program of the Department of Defense: From Foreign Assistance to Sustainable Partnerships (2007)
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From page 98... ...
system in Georgia is a step in the right direction, even though the assumption that TADR is an appropriate approach is not being challenged by the external evaluators -- a shortcoming that should be corrected in the future. The report recommended that BTRP should continue to develop improved metrics that will help guide evaluations of the impact of BTRP, and provide information for setting priorities for activities designed to reduce proliferation of biological weapons as well as related risks from naturally occurring pathogens.
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From page 99... ...
interests in cooperation, namely: • high potential of Russia's biological research and industrial complex to support both civilian and military programs • significance of efforts by the Russian government to revitalize research capabilities and apply them to solving social and economic problems • Russia's vast ecological diversity, which offers unique research environments and provides opportunities for detecting early emergence and movement of dangerous diseases of global importance • marketing opportunities within Russia for U.S. companies that provide biological products and services Emphasizing the importance of integrating the Russian health system into global networks that can respond to endemic and emerging diseases, the report stresses the importance of strengthening a broad range of policies and programs of Russia, including the following aspects: • focus on surveillance, diagnostics, and countermeasures (e.g., drugs and vaccines)
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From page 100... ...
100 IMPROVING METRICS FOR THE DOD CTR PROGRAM • meeting pathogen challenges • the promise of biotechnology • the human resource base • reshaping U.S. Cooperation In summary, while the report does not explicitly address metrics, it identifies a host of indicators of impact that should lead to approaches in measuring progress toward improved bilateral cooperation that benefits both countries.
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