Civilian Harm Mitigation
CNA independent analysis has supported US government efforts to reduce civilian casualties for two decades. We bring unique operational expertise to this challenge—as a nonprofit organization of scientists that has collected data alongside US forces in every major conflict since World War II. CNA research reveals how civilian harm happens in practice and offers practical solutions. We have led or contributed to every US assessment of civilian harm mitigation, and our recommendations have informed practice and policy, including the DOD Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Action Plan. We also work with militaries in the field to help them protect civilians while maintaining or improving mission effectiveness. CNA engages with all stakeholders—civilian, military, and governmental—to develop data-informed solutions that advance both civilian protection and national security.
Featured Reports
Examples of Current Work
- Building institutional capacity for civilian harm mitigation with US allies and partners
- Analyzing best practices for civilian harm mitigation and response from recent operations
- Designing a tabletop exercise on civilian protection
- Evaluating emerging technologies that can be used to mitigate civilian harm
- Developing frameworks for civilian harm mitigation and response to assess allies and partners in support of security cooperation and assistance
CNA Clients and Partners in Civilian Harm Mitigation
Department of Defense
- Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations/Low-Intensity Conflict
- Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Global Partnerships
- Institute for Security Governance
- Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office
- Defense Security Cooperation Agency
- Civilian Protection Center of Excellence
Other
- State Department Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
- USAID
- MIT Lincoln Laboratory
- United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
Documents by Topic
Emerging
Technologies
Emerging Technologies and Civilian Harm Mitigation
Leveraging AI to Mitigate Civilian Harm
Redefining Human Control: Lessons from the Battlefield for Autonomous Weapons
Security
Cooperation
Promoting Civilian Protection During Security Assistance: Learning from Yemen
Integrating Civilian Protection into Security Assistance: Learning from Yemen
Responsible Arms Sales: Promoting Civilian Protection with Partner Forces
Protecting Civilians in Gaza Requires Not Just a Will, but a Way
Operational
Lessons Learned
Improving Lethal Action: Learning and Adapting in U.S. Counterterrorism Operations
Decade of War: Applying Past Lessons to the Counter-ISIS Campaign
Drone Strikes in Pakistan: Reasons to Assess Civilian Casualties
Operation Enduring Freedom-Philippines: Civilian Harm and the Indirect Approach
Lesson from Mosul and Raqqa: Next Time, Do “Everything Possible” to Reduce Civilian Casualties
From Aspiration to Action: Lessons to Reduce Civilian Casualties
Improving Protection of Humanitarian Organizations in Armed Conflict