Assessing the Impact of U.S. Security Assistance: Development of a Security Environment Index (SEI)

Abstract Information: This study addresses the challenge of objectively measuring the impact of U.S. security assistance on partner countries' internal and external conflicts. Traditionally, evaluations of security assistance programs rely on subjective assessments, often overlooking the perspectives of recipient nations, a historically underrepresented group in discussions on security assistance. The Security Environment Index (SEI) aims to bridge this gap by creating an open-sourced, data-driven index that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative analysis. This approach aligns perfectly with the 2024 American Evaluators Association conference theme of amplifying and empowering voices. Historically, evaluation within the security assistance sector has been homogenous in terms of perspectives and tools employed. This study brings a comprehensive mixed methods approach to disparate niche data by crossing multiple regions, themes, and practitioner points of view. Why recipient countries are underrepresented: Due to the sensitive nature of security assistance programs, evaluations have often focused on the perspectives of the U.S., neglecting the experiences and priorities of recipient countries. This research seeks to empower these often unheard voices by incorporating their insights into the evaluation process. The open-source data that central to the SEI promotes equitable access to federal and non-federal agencies as a baseline for analysis and comparison. The SEI leverages a three-phase research design: • Phase 1 (Quantitative): Public data on security assistance programs (Foreign Military Financing and International Military Education and Training) is collected and analyzed to identify correlations between these programs and conflict levels in partner countries. • Phase 2 (Qualitative): Interviews with experts from recipient nations provide contextual understanding of the quantitative findings, ensuring the SEI reflects their unique experiences. • Phase 3 (Integration): Findings from both phases are combined to determine the most effective way to measure the impact of security assistance. By establishing a baseline for measuring impact, the SEI can facilitate cross-governmental discussions on optimizing Foreign Military Financing and International Military Education and Training programs to better serve partner nations. This research not only fills a critical gap in evaluation methodology but also aligns with the AEA's commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices in the field.