Press Release: GCERF Expands Partnerships for Prevention of Violent Extremism

GCERF Expands Partnerships for Prevention of Violent Extremism in Central Asia Through Rehabilitation of Former Combatants

11 November, Geneva: The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) today confirmed a new agreement for cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan at a thought-leadership event at the UN Palais des Nations, focused on the rehabilitation and reintegration of former violent extremist combatants, and their families. The agreement was confirmed as partners were convened for a discussion titled ‘Effective rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees from North-Eastern Syria – Uzbekistan’s experience from Global to Local’.

The Republic of Uzbekistan became one of the latest countries to partner with GCERF as of September 2024, alongside the Republic of Kazakhstan. The two Central Asian States join the Republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan among countries partnering with GCERF in Central Asia, reflecting an intensified regional effort to prevent violent extremist narratives from taking hold, and to rehabilitate individuals and families returning from conflict settings. 

Estimates are that tens of thousands of former combatants and their families remain in detention camps in Eastern Syria. With donor support channeled through GCERF, partner countries in the Western Balkans, Africa and Middle East have pioneered an effective model of supporting individual citizens to return home, and to be reintegrated into communities through psychosocial care, livelihoods training, and other forms of support.  

“The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund is firmly committed to preventing violent extremism and its root causes around the world,” said Dr Khalid Koser, Executive Director of GCERF. “Today, we are here to celebrate the leadership demonstrated by Uzbekistan in rehabilitating and reintegrating its citizens. We are also here to confront the global security challenge which extremism represents, and to chart a way forward for Central Asia,” he said.

Already, Central Asian states have shown leadership in developing national strategies for the prevention of violent extremism, and in responding to the need to repatriate and reintegrate nationals from foreign conflict settings, particularly from Syria and Iraq. Taken together, the four Central Asian States have returned some 2,200 of their nationals.

“We now have not only government representatives, but also experts and specialists from civil society and governmental organisations who are directly involved in the rehabilitation and reintegration processes,” said Mr Eldor Aripov, Director of the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.  “We need to use this potential to develop joint strategies and initiatives. By joining forces, we can not only strengthen security, but also create sustainable communities free of radical ideologies,” he said.

Rehabilitating returnees who have abandoned terrorist organisations and facilitating their reintegration into communities is widely recognised as a practice which gives individuals and family members a second chance, while serving as an effective tool to reduce the appeal of extremist narratives for these family members and others in their communities.

The event and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding took place in the presence of Ambassador and Permanent Representatives to the UN Office in Geneva of the Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as those of other Member States who are donors or partners to GCERF and UN partner agencies.

ENDS

Based in Geneva, Switzerland, GCERF is a global fund making grants to support community-led projects in countries where the risk of violent extremism is high. GCERF supports more than 382 civil society partners in 25 countries around the world with grants of an initial duration of three years. Projects supported by GCERF aim to reach vulnerable individuals and communities, equipping them to be better able to counter violent extremist rhetoric and efforts to recruit new members.

As part of GCERF’s investment model, grant-supported activities build in features to ensure continuity beyond the period where the countries receive GCERF funding. Long-term sustainability of community-led initiatives is a key feature of all GCERF grants. To date, projects supported by GCERF have reached around four million people directly at risk of radicalisation and recruitment, at an average cost of only USD 38 per person.

To learn more about GCERF please visit: www.gcerf.org

Media contacts

For GCERF:
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