Community-centered collaboration to prevent and counter violent extremism

Summary

This policy brief draws from discussions during the USAID Sauti National Conference held on 12th and 13th March 2024. It examines the progress and barriers in implementing whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches to Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) in Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, and Lamu counties. Key reflections include addressing trust deficits between communities and security agencies, co-creating intervention programs, ensuring sustainability, including gender and youth, and prioritising mental health. Hosted by Centre for Human Rights and Policy Studies (CHRIPS), Mercy Corps, and the Kenya School of Government, the conference gathered 43 participants from state agencies, civil society, academia, and policy-making. This brief summarises the discussions and insights from the conference, providing an overview of PCVE policy and programming challenges and progress.

Keywords

community-centered collaboration, P/CVE, youth engagement, Kenya, CHRIPS, USAID, barriers

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