PVE Monthly highlights - June 2022

Global Highlights

• The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Guidance Note in Practice: The PVE/CPPRI team held two practitioner sessions for UNDP colleagues to discuss practical applications of the Guidance Note and share emerging practices and challenges. UNDP is also exploring the role of faith and spirituality in integrating MHPSS and peacebuilding and partnered with USIP to bring together faith-based actors, academics and MHPSS/peacebuilding practitioners to promote collaboration, discussion and on how we can support this nexus. More ways to connect:
  • Interested in joining our community of practitioners? To sign up,  click here.
  • Access our new ExpRes roster on MHPSS in prevention and peacebuilding through the ExpRes roster system.
• The PVE HQ team hosted an EU-UNDP Dialogue on Responsible Digitalization and launched the Guidance Note and Policy Brief for the "Utilizing Online Data for Preventing Violent Extremism and Addressing Hate Speech". 
   

   

• Read the complementary blog on Key Considerations for collecting, analyzing and using online data in a risk-informed to inform PVE programming.
   

   

• A Hate Speech Practitioners Session was held for UNDP practitioners for knowledge sharing on opportunities, challenges and ways forward in addressing hate speech in their respective countries and regions.
• The PVE Annual Report 2021 is published, reiterating the importance of development-based and human-centered approaches to tackling violent extremism. It highlights the lessons learnt and ways forward in which the prevention of violent extremism must foster cohesion and inclusion, build resilience, and empower individuals and communities.

Regional Highlights

• The Roundtable Meeting for the Revision of the Regional PVE Project For Africa brought together a wide range of stakeholders (researchers, CSO actors, regional institutions, international partners, country office focal points, Resident Representatives and UNDP bureaus) with the aim of discussing the improvements that UNDP should apply in its regional PVE responses in Africa. This will be followed by a project board. To see a highlight of PVE activities, see UNDP Africa’s 2022 Q1 newsletter.
• UNDP and the Regional Bureau for the Arab States and Amman Regional Hub organised a roundtable discussion in Amman, Jordan from 6-7 June where governments, institutions, and organisations participated in sharing lessons and good practices covering: 1) Understanding Violent Extremism Threat in the region and evidence-based research; 2) Institutional capacity-building on PVE and National Action Plans development; 3) Countering Hate Speech and role of the Media; 4) Disengagement, Deradicalization, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration 5) Engagement with CSOs, Youth, Women, Religious Leaders, and Faith-based Organizations; 6) Leveraging Psychology for more impactful PVE; 7) Dialogue and Promotion of Peace, Tolerance and Social Cohesion; and 8) Regional and cross-border cooperation, coordination and knowledge sharing. This led to the following key recommendations: 1) multi-country case-based analysis of lessons learned and good practices on disengagement, rehabilitation and reintegration; 2) enhancing regional networks (through CoPs and Working Groups); 3) meaningful participation and; 4) integrating psychology and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support with science and data for planning and programming. 
    

   

• During the 21^st Arab Conference of Heads of Rehabilitation and Correctional Institutions, in which representatives of the Ministries of Interior and Justice of the Arab States and the Arab University of Nayef for Security Sciences participated, the UNDP Amman Regional Hub was invited to discuss important topics on rehabilitation and correctional institutions. The Regional PVE Programme Specialist contributed by highlighting the rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-violent extremist groups’ members with emerging good practices from the Arab Region, supported by the Regional PVE Project, such as Morocco.

Country Highlights

• In Kyrgyzstan, the UNDP Programme for Building Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE Asia) established Community Advisory Groups in 9 local governments, represented by youths, women, religious leaders, law enforcement agencies and local authorities. They were trained in conflict analysis and identified causes of violent extremism and developed measures to prevent violent ideologies and practices among vulnerable groups. Small grants aimed at increasing social cohesion were given to local communities to tailor programming according to local needs. UNDP also supported the process of drafting the Law on countering Extremist Activity by engaging CSOs, media organizations, INGOs, state and local institutions, PVE practitioners and academia. This is aimed to bridge whole-of-government policies in Kyrgyzstan, focus on pre-emptive PVE programming rather than security measures and to enhance human rights standards.
• UNDP Turkmenistan conducted online and in-person trainings to representatives from Youth Organizations, women Union, local Employment Departments of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan, local police, and municipalities aimed at developing mentoring skills and knowledge of best practices in strengthening the resilience of vulnerable youth to violent extremism and radicalization. Read more on Turkmenistan’s Country Component of the Global Project on “Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism in Asia” (STRIVE Asia) and how it provides support to partners and communities in preventing violent extremism.