II. Fundamentals
2.3. CIMIC core activities
The joint function CIMIC comprises two core activities, both Civil factor integration (CFI) and Civil-military interaction (CMI) support the accomplishment of missions and military objectives.
The CIMIC core activities are defined as follows:
-CFI encompasses the identification, analysis, and assessment of civil factors of the operating environment in order to contribute to the decision-making process (DMP).
-CMI is defined as “activities between military NATO bodies and non-military actors to foster mutual understanding that enhance effectiveness and efficiency in crisis management and conflict prevention and resolution.”
Figure 2.4 CIMIC core activities shows the independencies of the two core activities and their relation to the joint function CIMIC.
Figure 2.4 - CIMIC core activities
Civil factor integration
CFI utilizes frameworks such as the PMESII/ ASCOPE to organize collected data on the civil factors of the operating environment. CFI plays a fundamental role in the COUE and aims to display, integrate, and analyse civil factors that influence the development of the OpPlan and the conduct of the operation. Conversely, it is applicable to nearly all phases in the tactical and operational planning processes. It is crucial to understand that there are preconditions necessary to enable CFI through planning and operation. All available data (facts) must be assessed, and conclusions drawn from the assessment. This is ensured through the CIMIC estimate process.
Figure 2.4 - Civil factor integration terminology
The CIMIC estimate is a continuous process executed by CIMIC Staff. It creates the basis for contribution to staff processes and products and serves as a fundamental repository of data, information, and products concerning the civil factors of the operating environment. Tools for this estimate can be found in Chapter 8.
Civil factor integration Staff activities include:
Identify and facilitate(support) complementary non-military actions (CNMA).
Identify, analyse, and asses civil factors having a critical impact on the planning and conduct of activities and operations, creating the necessary understanding as a contribution to CUOE.
Identify and assess the impact of military activities and operations on non-military audiences. Identify, analyse, and assess civil factors relevant to MC2HS and CCTs.
Identify, analyse, and assess the impact of non-military activities on own activities and operations.
Identify shortfalls in resilience requirements[1] to anticipate potential negative impacts on military activities and operations.
Advise on synchronizing military and non-military activities to create converging effects and on mitigating the negative consequences of military activities.
Develop the CIMIC concept of operation (typically Annex W to plans).
Establish mechanisms to share information with non-military actors.
Assess non-military actors’ requests for military support.
Civil-military interaction
General. CMI includes the activities of outreach, engagement with non-military actors and stakeholders, civil-military liaison, and consultation and collaboration with non-military actors and stakeholders. None of the activities is isolated; they are connected to each other and represent a certain stage of interaction with actors.
Figure 2.3-CMI
Outreach activities establish communication with individuals, organisations or communities, with the aim of creating opportunities for engagement and civil-military liaison.
Engagement with non-military actors: This activity reflects any form of (human) interaction aimed at delivering influential messages in support of the overall campaign objectives. Be aware that Engagement with non-military actors constitutes a CIMIC activity under the scope and direction of the joint function information and, therefore, has to be coordinated within the staff with J10.
Consultation and collaboration[2] with non-military actors and stakeholders are conducted to complement military and non-military capabilities and synchronize activities.
Civil-military liaison
Civil-military liaison is based on unity of purpose, continuity, and strives for synchronization of actions at all levels to ensure efficient use of resources. It is a specialized form of CMI that requires training and education to interact appropriately with non-military actors.
Types of civil-military liaison:
1) Institutionalized, sustained relationships[3];
2) Interaction for education, training, exercises and evaluation;
3) Liaison in the context of operations and activities.
Civil-military liaison arrangements are based on several considerations such as the intended or agreed level of interaction, the availability of liaison capabilities and capacities, geographical settings, and the security situation, the security risks that exist for non-military actors if they are perceived as being too closely associated with NATO.
Figure 4.3 - Civil-military liaison arrangements
1) Co-location of military and non-military actors’ staff elements facilitates high levels of interaction.
2) Liaison exchange through the exchange of liaison staff enables a near real time exchange of information and coordination.
3) Liaison visits may be scheduled regularly or conducted on an ad-hoc basis.
4) Third party interlocutors facilitate the exchange of information in cases where political or security considerations demand physical distance or clear distinction.
5) Mechanisms and platforms that facilitate liaison encompass regular meeting formats, coordination mechanisms, permanent or temporary fora, platforms, boards or coordination centres[4].
6) National systems may be required where sovereignty considerations do not allow direct liaison between NATO forces and non-military actors. In such cases, necessary interaction will be channelled through a HN military actor.
Consultation (Collaboration) with non-military actors and stakeholders are conducted to complement military and non-military capabilities and synchronize activities.
CIMIC Staff activities that enable CMI include:
1) Identification of non-military actors;
2) Development and maintenance of a liaison network;
3) Establishment of communication mechanisms;
4) Education and training on CMI;
5) Advising on the appropriate level of interaction and CMI arrangements;
6) Advising staff specialists to interact with non-military actors.
CIMIC Staff activities that facilitate CMI include:
1) Introduction of non-military actors to military counterparts at the appropriate level;
2) Initiation of first access/contact to non-military actors;
3) Creation of platforms and mechanisms supporting conduct of CMI – if required;
4) Assisting in negotiations in sensitive areas of CMI conducted by commander and their staff.
CIMIC Staff activities during conduct of CMI include:
1) Sharing of information;
2) Collection of civil factor data and information;
3) Contribution to developing procedures to process civil requests for support;
4) Civil-military planning and synchronization of activities, actions and operations, applying defined
measures of performance and measures of effectiveness;
5) Integration and synchronization of CNMA in peacetime vigilance activities and operations;
6) Monitoring and assessment of impacts and effects of civil and civil-military activities;
7) Promotion of force acceptance and transparency;
8) Contribution to strategic communications (StratCom).
[1] As described by the seven baseline requirements (7BLR), see chapter 7
[2] Consultation: The functions and responsibilities of civilian and military authorities at political, strategic, operational and tactical levels for making decisions, planning, coordinating and directing resources, and conducting actions or operations for the accomplishment of an organization’s missions and objectives. (AAP-31). For details on consultation and collaboration see the Initial Alliance Multi-Domain Operations Concept.
[3] Based on formal agreements (e.g. with ICRC and the UN).
[4] Examples for permanent centres are NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC), the European Union’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC). An example for a temporary regional platforms are On-Site Operational Coordination Centres (OSOCC) or the UN-Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs’ (UN-OCHA) Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CMCoord framework.