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Enhancing Cooperation: Lessons on Localizing Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Strategies from Kenya and Indonesia

Enhancing Cooperation: Lessons on Localizing Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism Strategies from Kenya and Indonesia

“Extremism has many faces and deeply affects our communities across the world, also both in Kenya and Indonesia, where extensive efforts are being made to tackle these threats through the development of localized PCVE approaches.” – Rick van der Woud, CEO Mensen met een Missie (MM) and #JISRA Consortium Lead.

Different forms of violent extremism threaten communities which greatly affects social cohesion and peacebuilding. Therefore, it is important that countries including Kenya and Indonesia develop national strategies to prevent and counter violent extremism. Kenya and Indonesia, have embarked on localizing these national strategies on PCVE to county or provincial levels to prevent and counter violent extremism. It is with this that Kenya Community Support Center (KECOSCE) under the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) an initiative implemented by MM focusing on advancing the Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) hosted a hybrid peer to peer dialogue. This would explore good practices of PCVE in Kenya and Indonesia based on collective efforts by the civil society.

This peer dialogue between Kenya and Indonesia brought together state and non-state actors to dialogue on “Strategies for Designing and Implementing Local Efforts to Prevent Violent Extremism and Promote Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB)”. It gave a platform to explore good practices of PCVE based on collective efforts of civil society organizations and collaborations with national governments where mobilization of efforts effectively advocates for the localization of the National Action Plan on Preventing Violent Extremism (NAP on PVE). The main objective being to explore opportunities for designing PCVE strategies through movement building involving creative approaches at the local levels.

“Kenya offers us a strong example, where the County Action Plans around Mombasa and the Coastal Region have been successfully implemented for the past years,” – Rick van der Woud.

Kenyan actors have been active in localization of PCVE action plans in Kenya since 2016. Organizations such as KECOSCE, Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics (CICC) and Women of Faith under the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya have been involved and some at the forefront in the formulation and development of several Local Action Plans and their members are key stakeholders in most County Engagement Forums. KECOSCE runs a regional CVE early warning and early response (EWER) hub that has been instrumental in supporting monitoring changing contexts and factors for prevention interventions.

 “Kenya’s localization of PCVE has increased community resilience, local ownership and improved relations between state and communities,” – Phyllis Muema, Executive Director KECOSCE

Kenya has continually collaborated with various state and non-state actors in localizing PCVE. There have been tremendous strides in PCVE implementation that have seen the incorporation of the role of civil society organizations, state organizations, youth and women.

 “The New PCVE Kenyan Strategy appreciates the respect of the article 10 of the Kenyans Constitution and acknowledges the need for psychosocial support.” –  Mr. Joseph Kanyiri, Chief Liaison Ofcer, Prevention and Resilience, National Counter Terrorism Center/NCTC – Kenya

In Indonesia, the adoption process of the UN Secretary-General’s Plan of Action on the Prevention of Violent Extremism involves civil society, and especially women. Women unique perspectives, experiences, and influence have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of strategies aimed at reducing radicalization and promoting peace.

“Women need to be central actors rather than passive actors in localization of prevention of Violent Extremism. We collaborate closely with the government as a way of widening and strengthening civic space to address Violent Extremism – Ruby Kholifah, AMAN Indonesia/WGWC Secretariat.

“The courage of the governments of Kenya and Indonesia, and our partners, to engage in these discussions on such sensitive issues, demonstrates that we can effect real change together.” – Rick van der Woud.

The peer to peer dialogue was able to document effective approaches by CSOs in designing strategies for PCVE localization and analyze the barriers and difficulties experienced by civil society organizations (CSOs) during the localization process of the National Action Plan on Preventing Violent Extremism (NAP on PVE). There was also enhanced participants’ comprehension of distinct models of civil society organization (CSO) movement building, which was aimed at advocating for the localization of PVE within specic local contexts in both Kenya and Indonesia. This dialogue also played a key role in highlighting lessons on CSO movement building in advocating PVE localization

This peer dialogue is part of a two-segment hybrid dialogue between the two countries. The 2nd dialogue will be hosted in Indonesia by IMPARSIAL on “Challenges, Obstacles, and Opportunity in the Localization of PCVE Strategies and FoRB Issues”. This will culminate in a joint in person event in Kenya that will bring about 30 participants from Kenya, Indonesia, and the broader East African region such as Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Mozambique.

By Mary Ndulili.

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