📍 Strengthening Partnerships and Community Resilience in Kyrgyzstan From 5–9 October, GCERF’s Regional Manager for Central Asia, Mr. Gianluigi Lopes, visited Kyrgyzstan to engage with government institutions, international partners and local actors working to prevent violent extremism and strengthen community resilience. During the visit, meetings with government counterparts, the @EUinKyrgyzstan, @franceaukg, the embassies of Germany and Japan in Kyrgyzstan, the @ICRC, and Local Task Forces (LTFs) focused on ongoing and planned activities, progress and challenges, and opportunities to strengthen future cooperation. 👉 Strong partnerships and local leadership are essential to building resilient communities, strengthening social cohesion and supporting sustainable efforts to prevent violent extremism. By connecting international cooperation with locally led action, GCERF and its partners are helping communities in Kyrgyzstan build resilience and create opportunities for a more peaceful future. @EUinKyrgyzstan @franceaukg @ICRC

🤝 Connecting with the peacebuilding community at the #GenevaPeaceForum On 13 October, GCERF took part in the Peacebuilding Marketplace at the Geneva Peace Forum, sharing our work and exchanging ideas with participants from across the field. We extend our sincere thanks to the organisers of #GPF26 for creating this valuable space for dialogue, exchange and collaboration across the peacebuilding community. 💐 A warm thank you to everyone who visited our stand and engaged with us. We look forward to continuing these conversations and strengthening collaboration to prevent violent extremism and build more resilient communities. @CICG_Geneva @Geneve_int

🕊️ From conflict to reintegration: why must mental health be part of the peacebuilding process at every stage? To mark World Mental Health Day, GCERF, together with the @BerghofFnd, @Interpeace_Org, @MaandeeqMentalH and @UNDP, brought together peacebuilders and mental health professionals to discuss Connecting Mental Health and Peacebuilding Across the Conflict Cycle. 💬 As Dr. Linda Hoxha, Teaching Assistant at the Department of Psychology, Instituti i Psikologjisë at the University of Prishtina, Kosovo reminded us: “Return is not the end of the crisis, it is the beginning of a much longer process.” Reintegration requires more than returning home. It means addressing the lasting psychosocial impacts of conflict and supporting people as they rebuild their lives and relationships. GCERF’s Deputy Executive Director, Lilla Schumicky-Logan, also highlighted the link between young people’s mental health and radicalisation, particularly online: 💬 “What we are seeing today across the world is that the mental health of young people has an incredible effect in radicalisation, especially when it comes to online settings.” The discussion reinforced a central message: Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) must be integrated into peacebuilding across the conflict cycle, with people’s lived experiences shaping the approaches and policies that affect them. 💐 Thank you to all speakers, including Mohammed Ali from Resonate! Yemen and Jeyana Ahmed from Salam for Hope Foundation for sharing their insights, and to all participants for contributing to this important exchange. 👉 Sustainable peace must address not only violence itself, but also its lasting impact on people and communities. @UniPrishtina @ResonateYemen @BerghofFnd @Interpeace_Org @MaandeeqMentalH @UNDP

💡 How can policymakers respond when climate pressures increase the risks associated with violent extremism? At the #BCSC2026, Germany’s Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Dr @AussenMinDE, referenced the Nairobi Toolkit on the Climate-Security Nexus in his keynote address. 📄 The Toolkit helps governments, civil society and practitioners understand how climate-related pressures interact with local grievances, insecurity and violent extremism, and identify key recommendations for policy and practice on how to address the nexus. It draws on two years of research, seven expert workshops and consultations across the climate, development and security sectors. The Toolkit was developed through @theGCTF Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism, co-led by @AuswaertigesAmt and @GovtOfKenya, with GCERF as implementing partner. The next step is the implementation of the toolkit at both the programmatic and policy levels. For that, GCERF counts on the support of its partners and stakeholders. It is time to transform a challenge into an opportunity for prevention and peace. 👉 Read the Full Speech of H.E. Dr @AussenMinDE here: auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsr… @AuswaertigesAmt @GovtOfKenya @NCTC_Kenya @theGCTF @AndreAR1025 @PalazzoloKatya @stefanomanservi

🌍 Climate change is not only an environmental challenge. It is reshaping the conditions in which armed groups recruit, operate, and sustain themselves At the #BCSC2026, GCERF, @adelphi_berlin, and @UNIDIR convened a side event exploring climate-induced fragility in areas affected by violent extremism and terrorism, moderated by @AndreAR1025, GCERF's Head of Performance and Impact Unit. Three key insights emerged: 🔹 Prevention must be forward-looking. Anticipating vulnerabilities before they escalate is essential to preventing climate-related pressures from fueling instability and violent extremism. 🔹 The links run in both ways. Climate shocks can undermine livelihoods and trust - creating openings these groups may exploit. At the same time, P/CVE and climate responses can unintentionally deepen environmental pressures and grievances. 🔹 Climate sensitivity must become part of how we work. P/CVE approaches must integrate climate realities into prevention, peacebuilding, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts. 👉 One message stood out: Supporting civil society is necessary and the most effective way to address the nexus between climate and security – including violent extremism, and we should embrace focused and localised approaches. 💐 Our sincere thanks to speakers Siobhan O'Neil, Aisha Omar, @kasinganeti_t and @LRuettinger for an open, thoughtful and highly insightful discussion - and to the organisers of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference for bringing together such a diverse community to advance this critical dialogue. 🌱 The climate-security nexus is not a future challenge. It is already shaping the realities in which peace, security and prevention must operate. @AuswaertigesAmt @adelphi_berlin @UNIDIR @ClimateDiplo @stefanomanservi

🌱 A new step for rehabilitation and reintegration in Burkina Faso On 23rd September, the "Reconstruire" Project officially launched its activities at the High-Security Prison in Burkina Faso, marking GCERF’s first investment in prison-based rehabilitation and reintegration programming in the country. As part of GCERF’s work on Rehabilitation and Reintegration (R&R), the project will pilot a context-sensitive approach combining screening, engagement with religious leaders, psychosocial support, and vocational training to support rehabilitation and future reintegration. 🤝 The launch brought together prison authorities and key institutional stakeholders, including a representative of the Minister of Justice and the Director General of the Prison Administration, which was key to creating the conditions for this initiative to move forward. 💐 We thank @MFA_Lu and the @NorwayMFA for their continued support, as well as the members of the Country Support Mechanism (CSM) for their participation and engagement in this important milestone. 👉 This lays the foundation for continued collaboration to strengthen rehabilitation and reintegration approaches in Burkina Faso. @UnijedAfrique @UFCDori

🤝Pleased to continue engaging with @UN_CTED. ASG Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate, and @stefanomanservi, Chair of GCERF's Governing Board, discussed avenues for joint action to advance #CVE, and strengthen States’ meaningful engagement with civil society organisations, and communities. 🌍 Looking forward to strengthening our joint efforts.

🌍 In case you missed it: GCERF and the @AfDB_Group join forces Earlier this week, on the margins of #UNGA81, GCERF and @AfDB_Group signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen the prevention of violent extremism, community resilience and development investment across Africa. Hosted by the @AfricanUnionUN, the signing brought together different perspectives on how prevention, peace, security and development can be better connected: 🤝 Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank Group @ML_AkinOlugbade highlighted the importance of putting communities at the centre of these efforts, while GCERF’s Governing Board Chair @stefanomanservi emphasised the value of connecting community-level knowledge and locally led prevention with wider development investment and economic opportunity. Ambassador Deputy Yabesh Monari of Kenya to the United Nations voiced his country's support for this partnership, and for African-led, nationally owned, community-centred approaches to prevention and resilience. 💐 Thank you to the @AfricanUnionUN, @AfDB_Group , @KenyaMissionUN, @GovtOfKenya, and all the colleagues and partners who helped bring this partnership to this stage. This signature marks a beginning, not a conclusion. We look forward to the work ahead - for a more peaceful, resilient and prosperous Africa. 👉 Learn more here: devdiscourse.com/article/bus…

🤝 GCERF's Governing Board's Chair, @stefanomanservi met with Dr Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ISRS). 👉 On the agenda: GCERF’s priorities in Central Asia, funded programmes in Uzbekistan, and opportunities to further support R&R efforts, notably through the Central Asia Regional Expert Council (REC) on the R&R of Returnees from Conflict Zones. GCERF looks forward to advancing this work with ISRS. @stefanomanservi @GCERF_ED

🗨️ “This partnership reflects the simple but important idea that investment in prevention of violent extremism is also an investment in sustainable development,” said @stefanomanservi, Chair of GCERF's Governing Board. Today in New York, on the margins of #UNGA81, GCERF and the @AfDB_Group marked the signing of a Letter of Intent - and, as @GCERF_ED Dr. Khalid Koser highlighted, the beginning of what we hope will become a practical and ambitious partnership. At the heart of it is a simple belief: We cannot separate prevention from development. 🤝 This partnership brings together complementary strengths: The African Development Bank’s scale, development expertise and reach across the continent, and GCERF’s experience in locally led prevention and working closely with communities, civil society and governments. 💐 Thank you to our hosts, partners and colleagues for their commitment to building a more peaceful, resilient and prosperous Africa. 👉 Read the Full Press Release: afdb.org/en/news-and-events/… @AfDB_Group @_AfricanUnion @AUC_PAPS @AfricanUnionUN

🎓 Celebrating new beginnings in Aden, Yemen We are proud to celebrate the graduation of 60 young women and men who completed four weeks of vocational training supported through our grantee, @DeemYemen. The training equipped 30 young men with skills in electrical extension and solar power system and 30 young women with sewing skills. All graduates also received toolkits to support them in putting their newly acquired skills into practice. 👉 At GCERF, we believe that meaningful youth empowerment does not end when the training does. As a next step, the graduates will engage with private-sector partners, providing them with real opportunities to start their own businesses or pursue employment with established companies. 👏 Congratulations to all 60 graduates on this important achievement! @EU_Commission @EU_FPI @WzartDn @MinistrySAL @YemenMTEVT

🌐 169 attendees. One critical issue: online radicalisation. Addressing it requires innovative, evidence-based approaches - and above all, listening to the people closest to the problem. That is exactly what happened today, at GCERF's Global Community of Practice (GCoP) on Online Radicalisation. A few takeaways that stayed with us: 🔹Online radicalisation is a hybrid and relational process. Radicalisation does not occur solely through digital exposure. 🔹Young people are the most powerful counter-messengers. Some of the most effective interventions shared were content designed, produced, and driven by young people themselves. 💡 And there's real cause for hope. In the Philippines, @idealsorgph, through a GCERF-funded programme, is strengthening community resilience by engaging trusted religious leaders as messengers and promoting youth-led prevention through youth patrollers and peace monitors. 💐 A heartfelt thank you to our moderator, Dr @elisa_orofino , and to our speakers, Albert Berisha, Jamuna Oehlmann, Richard Chalk, and Mikhaela Dimpas for so generously sharing their expertise and lived experience. 👉 What have you seen work in online radicalisation prevention? Share your experience in the comments below! @EU_Commission @EU_FPI @EUPreventionHub

🌍 GCERF is pleased to announce a new SEK 30 million contribution from Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency @Sida for a 30-month programme in Uzbekistan and Iraq. The initiative will support sustainable return and reintegration, strengthen the capacity of local authorities and civil society, and address vulnerabilities linked to irregular migration, social marginalisation and violent extremist recruitment. 🤝 The programme directly contributes to Sweden’s Global Development Cooperation Strategy 2024–2028 on migration, return and voluntary repatriation, while remaining firmly rooted in GCERF’s mandate to prevent violent extremism through locally designed and community-led approaches. 💐 Our sincere gratitude goes to the Government of Sweden and Sida for their partnership and investment in this important work. @Sida @SweMFA @Utrikesdep @stefanomanservi @GCERF_ED

🌍 The question today is no longer whether prevention works. The question is whether we can sustain it. At the @UN's 4th High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism, GCERF made the case: in fragile, conflict-affected settings, displacement, weak governance & food insecurity are fueling the conditions extremist groups exploit. For more than a decade, GCERF and our civil society partners have worked at the community level in 20+ countries, demonstrating that community-led prevention builds trust & resilience, even in the hardest contexts. As Member States undertake the review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, GCERF's call is clear: → Sustain investment in prevention → Strengthen partnerships with civil society → Renew commitment to local ownership 💐 Thank you @UNOCT for the opportunity. 📺 Full remarks: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1l/k1… #UNiteToCounterTerrorism @stefanomanservi @GCERF_ED @PalazzoloKatya @UN_OCT

💐 Proud to launch our programmes under the 2026–28 Country Investment Strategy for the Philippines together with Australia @dfat , New Zealand @MFATNZ , @DILGPhilippines and @peacegovph . In Mindanao, GCERF's next phase focuses on what the evidence says works: ➡️Community-based rehabilitation for returnees and victims of violent extremism ➡️ Economic opportunities for vulnerable and marginalised communities ➡️ Access to credible transitional justice mechanisms ➡️ Female leadership in PVE Grounded in the Philippines' National Action Plan on P/CVE and locally led from the ground up. Prevention that is rooted in communities. That is what this strategy is built on. Thank you to @dfat and @MFATNZ for your continued commitment and financial support - this work is only possible with partners like you who believe in locally led prevention. @AusAmbPH @NZinManila @NZAmbPH @stefanomanservi

💡 What does a 20% shift in attitudes linked to violent extremism actually look like? In Niger, it looks like this: the same people, measured before and after GCERF-funded programmes, showing measurably healthier views on identity, belonging, and personal wellbeing — the very factors that make individuals susceptible to radicalisation. When people feel secure in who they are and where they belong, extremist narratives lose their grip. GCERF's programmes in Niger addressed exactly these root causes. The numbers reflect it. This is a before-and-after measurement using a validated tool developed by GCERF. This is what evidence-based prevention delivers. And it is replicable. 📖Explore more results like these in Rooted in Communities — GCERF's Annual Report 2025: gcerf.org/annualreport2025?u…… @stefanomanservi @GCERF_ED @AusAmbCT @DanishMFA @EU_Commission @EU_FPI @Ulkoministerio @francediplo_EN @GermanyDiplo @AA_stabilisiert @ItalyMFA @MFA_Lu @cooperation_lu @DutchMFA @MFATNZ @NorwayMFA @SweMFA @SwissMFA @FCDOGovUK @CenterCve @Daniel_Frank @Lejdi_Dervishi

✅ Prevention works. And when the world pulls back from it, the cost is paid by communities. This was the shared resolve of the world's leading voices on preventing violent extremism at the 24th Governing Board Meeting of GCERF, the global fund for preventing violent extremism, held in Geneva on 2–3 June 2026. Over two days, partners from governments, civil society, and international institutions gathered not to debate whether prevention matters - but to decide how boldly to defend and advance it. For the first time in GCERF's history, an entire day of the Board was dedicated to strategic dialogue - a collective reckoning with the state of prevention globally, and GCERF's role in shaping what comes next. The discussions were rich, honest, and forward-looking, exactly what this moment demands. 🎯 GCERF enters this critical period from a position of strength: a clear four-year strategy, a fully funded 2026 budget, and a board of partners united in the conviction that multilateralism and prevention built on trust, evidence, and community action still works and still matters. 💐 Thank you to all Board Members for the productive discussions, and your unwavering commitment to communities on the front lines. @stefanomanservi @GCERF_ED @AusAmbCT @DanishMFA @EU_Commission @EU_FPI @Ulkoministerio @francediplo_EN @GermanyDiplo @AA_stabilisiert @ItalyMFA @MFA_Lu @cooperation_lu @DutchMFA @MFATNZ @NorwayMFA @SweMFA @SwissMFA @FCDOGovUK @CenterCve @Daniel_Frank @Lejdi_Dervishi