10/28/2024 - 16:45

Violent extremism and radicalization, in all forms and manifestations, currently constitute the most serious threats to peace and security of a country’s democracy and rule of law. As such, the fight against these threats, regardless of where they occur or by whom they are committed, requires governmental actors to strengthen cooperation at the national level. Similarly, prevention requires to be permanent, ongoing, and through multi-agency approaches.

This intervention addresses regions and mechanisms that fall under the national strategic priorities within the national strategy to speed up the case management system. In fact, the proposed project is based upon a thorough analysis of the new CVE Strategy 2022-2025 and it is referring to a clear commitment towards more resilient communities and reduced risk of radicalisation (Goal 1 of the Strategy), by revitalising the role of local actors, frontline practitioners and local structures with the national context; and liaising the information between municipalities as independent governmental authorities and the central level represented by the National Coordination Committee (still to be established and supported with methodology of work). Our approach is also in line with the National Cross-sectorial Strategy on Community Safety 2022-202612, where it is explicitly stated the need for unified “modus operandi” of local safety councils. Additionally the project is in line with the overall objective of the Call for Proposals when addressing the need for strengthened capacities of civil society organisations and government entities to prevent and counter radicalisation leading to VE and terrorism, by an efficient national referral mechanism in Albania.  

Investing in training and capacity building for case management and collection of data and case stories as good examples, does not overlap with any parallel mechanisms that contemplate and are functioning to support the CVE Centre in its role as a National Coordinator; we aim to revitalise ties that link local communities, families and individuals with state structure to find “open doors” in addressing concerns, identify and prevent risks and consolidate resilient local actors. What is at stake today relies on unified approaches that sustain results that foster resilience against the spread of violent extremism. In fact, through this project, we assess the importance of “local ownership” and “lead-by-example” cases that such municipal mechanisms have previously created. 

Joining efforts towards an operational referral system, effectively preventing and countering radicalization potentially leading to violent extremism and terrorism; Assist Albania and IANS, are implementing project that combines capacity building with advocacy and awareness raising to reach out positive preventive results against violent extremism. This project comes as a support to the National CVE Co-ordination Centre in its newly assigned role as national CVE Coordinator with the potential of unifying case management and referral methodologies/protocols; empowering community resilience and revitalizing the role of local safety councils as liaison chain between state and non-state actors. Activities are tailored to local needs and strategic priorities when combining training with consolidated referral instruments that, when properly used by local structures, effectively prevent and address drivers that feed radicalism and violent extremism

ACTIVITIES AND IMPACT:

The Project’s intervention logic includes the following activities:

OP 1. Revitalize and functionalize local safety mechanisms that ensure safer and more resilient communities.

Revitalizing local safety councils, many of which operate in an ad hoc manner,  will help address all identified cases and threats to the National CVE Committee. Working on empowering the voice and impact of such effective local referral structure will also include advocacy meetings, information and exchange workshops with the national CVE Centre and local actors (as regional police directorates, regional education directorates, religious leaders, CSOs, and others), and it is also contributing to consolidating standard operating procedures