Reconstruction Architecture

This chapter defines the governance and delivery architecture needed to rebuild at scale while minimizing capture and corruption risk. It is written as a structural template (what must exist) rather than naming a single institution as mandatory.

Objectives

• Deliver reconstruction fast enough to matter politically and humanly.
• Keep funds auditable end-to-end (allocation → procurement → delivery → outcomes).
• Reduce capture/corruption risk through structure, transparency, and competition.
• Enable donors and investors to participate with clear safeguards.

Core Components

1. Governing Authority (The “Reconstruction Brain”)

Define:

• Mandate and scope.
• Decision rights (who approves what).
• Conflict-of-interest rules.
• Oversight mechanisms (independent board, inspector general, audit committee).
• Relationships with domestic ministries and local authorities.

Design Rule: Authority must be strong enough to execute, but constrained enough to resist capture.

2. Funding and Disbursement Model

Define:

• Funding sources and instrument types (grants, loans, guarantees, private co-financing).
• Escrow/conditional release mechanisms (where appropriate).
• Tranche triggers tied to KPIs and audits.
• Rules for suspension/rollback on integrity failures.

3. Procurement and Contracting Standards

Define:

• Vendor qualification and debarment rules.
• Competitive bidding norms and exceptions (emergency cases).
• Standard contract templates.
• Conflict-of-interest disclosures.
• Pricing benchmarks and reference catalogs.
• Penalties for non-performance and fraud.

4. Project Pipeline and Prioritization

Define:

• Project intake and validation.
• Prioritization criteria (life safety, service restoration, economic throughput).
• Sequencing logic (dependencies and critical path).
• Geographic equity considerations (avoid perceived favoritism).

5. Delivery and Supervision Model

Define:

• Prime contractors vs distributed contracting.
• Local capacity building and workforce plans.
• Supervision and quality assurance (QA/QC).
• Safe access protocols under residual security risks.
• Interfaces with demining and hazard removal.

6. Audit, Integrity, and Transparency Layer

Define:

• Independent audit authority and cadence.
• Open reporting standards (what is published, when).
• Procurement transparency (open contracting where feasible).
• Whistleblower protections.
• Real-time anomaly detection (payments, vendor networks, pricing outliers).

Data and Reporting (Minimum Viable Transparency)

A minimum transparency stack should include:

• Project registry (scope, cost, timeline, contractor, location).
• Disbursement ledger (tranches, conditions, dates).
• Milestones and completion evidence (photos, inspections, certificates).
• Audit summaries and findings.
• KPIs and trend reporting.

Sensitive details (security, personal data) should be restricted, but the financial and delivery trail must remain auditable. (See also Data Governance)

Anti-Capture Safeguards (Recommended)

• Multi-party oversight board with rotating terms.
• Independent inspector general function.
• Public debarment list and conflict-of-interest registry.
• Standardized contracts and pricing references.
• Competitive delivery incentives (see Reconstruction Olympics).
• Mandatory external audits at defined thresholds.
• Random spot checks and third-party verification.

Integration with Conditionality

Rebuild disbursement should be linked to:

• Freeze stability gates (security and access).
• Vote legitimacy gates (certification and dispute resolution).
• Reconstruction integrity gates (audit pass/fail thresholds).

See:

• Verification-First Gates
• Accountability & Transparency

Next

• Performance Model: Reconstruction Olympics
• Optional Governance Model: Peace-Build Campus
• Economic Sequencing: Restart Plan