EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility

Context

The threat posed by terrorism to international peace and security is on the rise, notably in parts of Africa and Asia, as uncertainties around the situation in Afghanistan and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated the vulnerabilities of UN Member States and affected their efforts to counter terrorism. 

Overall objective

This project aims to support States in enhancing their capacities to address the terrorist threat, disrupt terrorist networks, prevent and counter the activities of terrorists and bring them to justice in compliance with international law, human rights and the rule of law, and while advancing gender equality.

Specific objectives

• To develop capacities to detect, prevent, counter, prosecute, investigate, and respond to terrorism, including emerging terrorist modi operandi, while ensuring respect for international law, human rights, and the rule of law, and advancing gender equality.
• To strengthen the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women in CT and PCVE policy and operational roles (Women in CT component).

Concrete activities

• The Facility delivers targeted technical assistance through tailored Support Packages (SPs), each addressing specific CT needs of beneficiary units, with advisory and mentorship services, capacity-building activities and the provision of light equipment.
• Côte d’Ivoire: One ongoing SP to support the Bureau for Planning and Security of Vulnerable Targets.
• Iraq: Two SPs completed, including support for voluntary repatriation and reintegration processes from Al-Hol camp.
• Kenya: Two SPs on PCVE and OSINT with the NCTC; a third SP in support the National Criminal Investigations Academy.
• Kyrgyzstan: Two SPs on digital forensics in CT cases and protection of vulnerable targets.
• Malawi: One SP to support drafting of a new anti-terrorism bill and improve interagency CT/PCVE coordination.
• Maldives: One SP to enhance national capacity to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate terrorism-related cases.
• Nigeria: One SP to support the National Counter-Terrorism Centre to revise the national CT strategy and enhance threat analysis.
• Somalia: Two ongoing SPs to support the creation of an operational command and control center of the Federal Darwish (FD), and to support the Tubsan National Centre for Counterterrorism and Preventing Violent Extremism (NCT-PVE).
• Tajikistan: One completed SP and two ongoing SPs supporting radiological and nuclear security at the Afghan border and the use of digital evidence in terrorism investigations and prosecutions.
• Togo: One completed SP on the protection of vulnerable targets from terrorist attacks and one ongoing SP supporting national capacities to counter improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
• Uganda: Two SPs completed and one ongoing to strengthen investigation and prosecution of terrorism-related cases.
• Uzbekistan: Two SPs under implementation, including support for a national PCVE centre and for strengthening capacities to detect cash couriers and counterfeit currency linked to terrorism financing at the Uzbek-Afghan border.
• Women in CT Component: Developed an institutional self-assessment toolkit to measure Women’s opportunities and trajectories in CT/PCVE services, and supported its implementation in Kenya, Uganda, the Maldives, Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan.

Results

• Côte d’Ivoire: Supported development of a national framework and prototype database for protection of vulnerable targets.
• Kenya: Developed M&E framework for the revised PCVE strategy, a new approach to communication campaigns, and an initial OSINT capacity; Supported the development and delivery of a CT Investigations Course, and provided training equipment.
• Kyrgyzstan: Strengthened Digital Forensics Laboratory through mentoring services, development of 20 new guidelines and 15 trainers certified in digital evidence collection. Supported the development of a national draft law on Critical infrastructure.
• Iraq: Trained 169 national officers in trauma-informed interviewing techniques and data handling for repatriation processes from Northern Syria; provided IT equipment and database support.
• Malawi: Improved understanding of CT/PCVE coordination via study visits and benchmarking; supported public consultations and legal drafting through advice and logistics.
• Nigeria: Trained 30 intelligence personnel in fusion-cell methodologies; and supported implementation planning for the revised National Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
• Somalia: Developed operational plans for command-and-control capabilities; and launched support to strengthen strategic communications and the national CT/PCVE coordination capacities of NCT-PVE.
• Tajikistan: Trained border officers in detecting nuclear and radiological threats; delivered vehicle and 30 radiation detectors to national CBRN agency. Equipped one training room and supported the development of a course on the use of digital forensics.
• Togo: Developed a protection and intervention plan for a vulnerable target with mentoring of eight officials from various agencies. Trained 30 trainers on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE), and 185 community relays in Northern Togo.
• Uganda: Enhanced police-prosecution coordination and compliance with fair trial standards through mentoring services and joint training of 28 trainers and domestic curriculum development.
• Uzbekistan: Completed institutional assessments and roadmaps for establishment of a national PCVE Centre and for strengthening border-security capacities against terrorism financing.
• Women in CT Component: One self-assessment completed by the CT Bureau in Kenya.

Achievements

• Iraq: Immediate increase in the pace and improvement of the repatriation process. 
• Kenya: Alignment of the NCTC’s role in strategic communications more closely with its coordination mandate.
• Kyrgyzstan: 30 per cent increase in the number of processed cases by the Digital Forensics Laboratory.
• Tajikistan: Enhanced operational readiness of border guards and national CBRN agency at the border with Afghanistan.
• Togo: Acquisition of new capacity to raise children’s awareness of the risks posed by explosive devices.
• Uganda: Higher acceptance rate of police files by prosecutors resulting in more cases being pleaded.