Returnees from conflicts abroad also known as Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters (RFTFs) are the predominant manifestation of violent extremism in the Western Balkans. Countries in the Western Balkans have had some of the highest number of returnees per capita in the world. Individuals who travelled, and in some cases fought in Syria and Iraq had various motives, usually a mix of personal drivers and justifying ideological objectives.  Lack of employment, poverty, and low levels of education further contribute to vulnerability to violent extremism in the Western Balkans.

Albania continued its strong support of international counterterrorism efforts, a total of 38 women and children, have been repatriated from displaced persons camp in Syria and engaging in the process of reintegrating and rehabilitating (R&R) with the support of the GCERF funded projects. The country has adopted national strategies on counterterrorism and countering violent extremism (CVE) through 2025. The terrorism threat in Albania consists of foreign terrorist organizations’ attempts to radicalize Albanian youth to violence.

Our grant portfolio aims to provide reintegration, rehabilitation, and resocialisation (RRR) support to returnees and their families, while working to strengthen the capacity of frontline workers and nurture an enabling environment for RRR throughout the country.