On 22 November, Governor Hassan Ali Joho of Mombasa, Kenya, and Deputy Mayor Jørgen Kristiansen of Kristiansand, Norway, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The signing ceremony took place on the margins of a city exchange between Kristiansand and Mombasa. This is a significant milestone for the two cities, coming out of the efforts of…
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Author: Gulmina Bilal, Director of Individualland Preventing Violent Extremism through Community Engagement Individualland Pakistan (IL) is a research based advocacy group that has been working towards countering violent extremism (CVE), strengthening democratic procedures, and enhancing the role of citizens in governance since 2007. Through the aforementioned thematic areas, IL aims to strengthen social cohesion and…
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Pajtim Saiti is a Project Manager at Search for Common Ground (SFCG) in Macedonia. Prior to joining SFCG, Pajtim led the Department for local economy, development and international cooperation at the municipality of Gostivar (Macedonia). Pajtim became familiar with the SCN when the Mayor nominated him as point of contact for his municipality. This short…
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As part of its series of annual Strong Cities Network activities, the Saida Community Prevention Network (CPN) organised a closing ceremony following the successful delivery of two Prevention of Violent Extremism (PVE) trainings. The first brought together Scout leaders representing the different Scout associations in the city, while the second training was delivered to teachers…
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After Tunisia, Jordan and Lebanon, Kenya saw its first Young Cities Youth Innovation lab take place in Mombasa from 19 – 21 November. Young Cities unites efforts from ISD’s Youth Civil Activism Network (YouthCAN) and Strong Cities Network (SCN), and is an integrated training and support programme for young activists and municipal policymakers and practitioners….
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The Strong Cities Network has launched two new online training modules, focusing on Polarisation and Local Risk Assessment. Module 3: Polarisation This training module aims to inform practitioners about polarisation and its wider implications in the sphere of violent extremism. Intended as an introduction, the module also covers hate crime, hate-speech and dangerous speech, and aims to…
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In November 2018, the Strong Cities Network convened over 40 representatives from the SCN’s Western Balkan cities, including ten mayors and deputy mayors at the Western Balkans Resiliency Forum in Budva, Montenegro. The forum was hosted by the International Republican Institute (IRI) in partnership with SCN and supported by the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization…
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The SCN recently hosted an event in Jordan showcasing the work of Community Prevention Networks (CPNs) working to prevent violent extremism across Zarqa, Karak, and Irbid. Established by the SCN, the Community Prevention Networks have worked closely with their local municipalities and the Jordanian Ministry of Municipal Affairs (MoMA) over the past two years under…
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Authors: Nourhan Nassar and Yomn al-Kaisi Reem Shaker was only 18 years old when a stray bullet struck her head on the balcony of her family home in the Lebanese city of Miniyeh. The shot which killed her was fired not in retribution, but in jubilation by a group celebrating the return of their loved ones from…
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Last week, the Strong Cities Network, in partnership with the National PVE Coordinator of Lebanon and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a consultation meeting with Community Prevention Network members of Saida, Majdal Anjar and Tripoli. The meeting was headed by the National PVE coordinator, Rubina Abou Zeinab, and was conducted in the presence…
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Facilitate systematic sharing of knowledge, expertise and lessons learned on building social cohesion and community resilience to prevent violent extremism across cities on an international basis, through both regional workshops and international conferences.
Raise awareness of existing policy, programming, and practice through a dynamic and searchable ‘Online Information Hub’, providing an extensive library of existing local approaches and responses to prevent violent extremism.
Directly support cities to develop strategic frameworks and capabilities to build resilience that safeguard the rights of their local communities, including through capacity building seminars and interactive training modules on themes of mutual interest.
Directly seed the development of new and innovative projects through ‘Local Innovation Grants’, providing support for cities on innovative project development and support for the transfer of promising projects that could be adapted across different locations.
Directly support cities to develop strategic frameworks and capabilities to build resilience that safeguard the rights of their local communities, including through capacity building seminars and interactive training modules on themes of mutual interest.
Provide a global platform to enable cities to jointly voice their needs and those of their communities, to inform national and international decision-making on preventing the spread and growth of violent extremism.
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