KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN

UNCLAS STATE 068969 FOR ASSISTANT CHIEF OF MISSION MUSSOMELI, BANGKOK FOR RIMC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMGT AADP KRIM AF SUBJECT: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT ACTION PLAN FOR AFGHANISTAN REF: A) MUSSOMELI/SWART EMAIL 22 JUNE 09, B) KABUL 1427 ¶1. The Department is pleased post found the recent visit of the Knowledge Management (KM) training team useful (reftel B). IRM fully appreciates the vital importance of effective knowledge management to the success of our integrated diplomatic, development and defense assistance efforts underway in Afghanistan. ¶2. In anticipation of the assignment of the three KM contractors requested by post, and in reviewing the issues detailed in reftel (B),the Department will work with post to identify and prioritize the most urgent KM support requirements. Focus will initially be on KM requirements of the front office. Based on the recent KM team visit, requirements seem to include information on mission-wide activities by region, elections, and improved visibility of PRT reporting. A second objective is training mission personnel on various KM tools already available. Please confirm if this accurately reflects mission KM priorities. ¶3. On the technology front, IRM will ship 20 workstations and KVM switches for use with a group of AID/Kabul users as discussed in ref (A). This deployment is in advance of the planned 250 workstations to enhance collaboration among Kabul Country Team members. In addition to the 20 workstations, IRM will send a TDY IT specialist to work with post's IT staff on the deployment of these devices to AID/Kabul users and to ease their transition to OpenNet. (USAID declined at this time our request to provide TDY expertise on USAID applications to facilitate the transition of their users.) The intent of this initial deployment is to gain an understanding of AID/Kabul's business requirements and thereby minimizing any disruptions to their important work. Septel will advise shipping details of the initial 20 workstations and deployment of the TDY specialist. ¶4. Prior to the decision to provide OpenNet workstations for AID/Kabul users, the Department carefully considered deploying the post-to-post connection that has been used at approximately 40 posts under the Joint Management Council (JMC) initiative. The Department rejected this option since a) experience has shown AID users of OpenNet still require an OpenNet logon and password for access to many applications; b) it elevates the security risks with local non-Trusted Internet Connections (TIC); and c) it does not move the U.S. Mission to a single cohesive platform. Additionally the proposed short-cut routing solution has not been maintained in over four (4) years and consequently not available for the current release of Microsoft Exchange. ¶5. IRM and the Department look forward to working on Post's KM priorities and enhancing the capabilities of the Country Team and the mission in Afghanistan. CLINTON