Seen but not Heard: How Evaluation Overlooks Youth Realities in Extremism Prevention

Summary

This report examines the growing challenge of youth radicalization and the critical need for robust evaluation of youth-focused P/CVE programmes. Based on interviews with 14 experts from seven countries, the study finds that despite increased P/CVE funding since the 2000s, evaluation efforts remain limited—particularly for youth programming. Three overarching findings emerge: (1) extremist groups are targeting increasingly younger demographics through sophisticated methods; (2) P/CVE efforts remain too securitized, top-down, or ideologically focused to reach youth effectively; and (3) evaluation practices overlook youth-specific needs, missing critical vulnerability drivers and long-term developmental impact. The report recommends evaluations designed around youth-specific protective and resilience indicators, methods that avoid endangering young people during identity development, evaluators familiar with youth lived realities, and extended tracking over multiple years. Without such shifts, falling behind on evidence of what prevents youth radicalization could have serious consequences for public safety and social cohesion.

Keywords

youth, evaluation, extremism prevention, programming, GPPi

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