A new report by the Strong Cities Network, mapping the implementation, progress, gaps, needs and priorities in Uganda, with recommendations for strengthening national-local and broader preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE)- related cooperation throughout the country. Part of a broader Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) initiative to support implementation of the GCTF Memorandum on Good Practices for Strengthening National-Local Cooperation for P/CVE.
In December, the Strong Cities Network convened nearly 60 local leaders and practitioners from cities across North America, together with their national and local counterparts from Finland, Norway and Sweden, in Denver, Colorado, for a remarkable two-day workshop on Strengthening Transatlantic City-Level Cooperation against Extremist- and Hate-Motivated Violence: The Role of Local Leaders and Local Governments: US – Nordic Experiences. The workshop was co-hosted by the City of Denver and the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP), with generous support from the U.S. Department of State and the European Union. The culmination of a year-long project supported by the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, and part of a broader SCN initiative focused on city-led efforts on both sides of the Atlantic to prevent hate and extremism.
In November, the Strong Cities Network co-organised the 6th International Civic Actors in War and Peace conference together with Partners for Democratic Change Slovakia (PDCS) and the European Observatory for Online Hate (EOOH), and with generous support from the U.S. Embassy in Slovakia. Attended by more than 120 participants from 19 countries, the conference provided an opportunity for local and national representatives, civil society organisations, researchers and youth groups to discuss the most pressing challenges to peace and security in Europe and exchange good practices to prevent and respond to hate, polarisation and extremism in online and offline communities, in wartime and peace.
1/4 @Strong_Cities new South Asia Regional Hub led a dynamic webinar with 40+ #city leaders, #practitioners, #CSO + #nationalgov reps from across #SEAsia to share + discuss good practices on national-local cooperation #NLC, #localgov #youth engagement + multi-agency collaboration
Last week, @Strong_Cities, @GlobalCt + @BNPTRI convened #national + #local stakeholders across #Indonesia for an important dialogue on strengthening #NLC + crucial role of #localgov in #PCVE. Our thanks to @dfat @DutchMFA for their support. Summary here: https://t.co/3lqPoysvDQ
1/4 @Strong_Cities new South Asia Regional Hub led a dynamic webinar with 40+ #city leaders, #practitioners, #CSO + #nationalgov reps from across #SEAsia to share + discuss good practices on national-local cooperation #NLC, #localgov #youth engagement + multi-agency collaboration
Last week, @Strong_Cities, @GlobalCt + @BNPTRI convened #national + #local stakeholders across #Indonesia for an important dialogue on strengthening #NLC + crucial role of #localgov in #PCVE. Our thanks to @dfat @DutchMFA for their support. Summary here: https://t.co/3lqPoysvDQ
We partner with city officials to establish local risk assessments and design action plans and programmatic responses. From de-radicalisation programming to youth engagement strategies, we ensure that local responses address local needs.
Working from the ground up, we establish local coordination bodies that unite city halls, civil society educators, public health bodies, the private sector and faith leaders to identify and address community tensions. We base our success on harnessing existing and credible institutions, from social services to traditional civic infrastructure.
We galvanise mayors, city officials, local services, communities and youth, training them to play active roles in diagnosing and responding to local risk factors, creating an international repository of best practice approaches.
We help members access the latest research and best practice from across the network through our SCN Online Hub, which features stories, interviews, guides and training modules for teachers, city officials and civil society. Our SCN Hate and Extremism Mapper provides members with data, building digital observatories that correlate online risks with offline behaviour.
We act as a bridge, creating stronger working relationships between local and national governments. We also provide civil society with the knowledge, skills and resources to foster meaningful partnerships with officials in city halls.
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