About the GCTF

The Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) is an informal, apolitical, multilateral counterterrorism platform. It is small, nimble, inclusive, and consensus-based. Its overarching mission is to reduce the vulnerability of people worldwide to terrorism by mobilizing expertise and resources to prevent, combat, and prosecute terrorist acts and counter incitement and recruitment to terrorism. 

The Forum brings together policymakers and practitioners from around the world to share experiences and expertise, and to develop practical, publicly available tools and strategies on how to prevent and counter the evolving terrorist threat. The GCTF is currently co-chaired by Egypt and the European Union. 

Read more »

What is the GCTF?

News

Bolstering a coordinated regional approach to strengthen community resilience against IEDs in East Africa

Bolstering a coordinated regional approach to strengthen community resilience against IEDs in East Africa

1 April 2026

Under the Kenya-Kuwait mandate, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group led an expert meeting on strengthening community resilience against IEDs in the region. Read more »
Compiling lived experience and expert opinion to advance the discussion around climate change and insecurity

Compiling lived experience and expert opinion to advance the discussion around climate change and insecurity

10 March 2026

Led by Germany and Kenya, the Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism conducive to terrorism held a virtual workshop seeking stakeholder input and insights on the links between climate change and insecurity.

Read more »
Employing strategic communications to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism in East Africa

Employing strategic communications to prevent and counter violent extremism conducive to terrorism in East Africa

28 January 2026

Under the mandate of Kenya and Kuwait, the East Africa Capacity-Building Working Group led an activity to strengthen strategic communications for online P/CVE efforts in the region.

Read more »
Aligning efforts to enhance oversight and accountability mechanisms in counterterrorism operations

Aligning efforts to enhance oversight and accountability mechanisms in counterterrorism operations

11 December 2025

The GCTF Oversight and Accountability in Counterterrorism Initiative officially launched the Brussels Memorandum on Good Practices for Oversight and Accountability Mechanisms in Counterterrorism. Read more »
1Last

Activities

UN Counter-Terrorism Centre – GCTF Border Security Initiative - Second Regional Workshop on the Horn of Africa

UN Counter-Terrorism Centre – GCTF Border Security Initiative - Second Regional Workshop on the Horn of Africa

29-30 May 2016

The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss twelve draft good practices compiled as a result of previous meetings. 

Key themes of discussion included: 

  • While interagency cooperation is key for a successful border security and management (BSM) policy, governments should adopt tailored approaches on parameters to implement this cooperation. 
  • Lack of resources, threats to border communities emanating from FTFs, communities’ protection from terrorist groups and detachment of border communities in remote border areas from the wider community have been identified as key challenges in engagement with border communities and in the field of community border policing.
  • Governments might consider authorizing the local border agencies and liaison officers to interact with their counterparts on the other side of the border as a way of effective information exchange. 
  • Within the context of border surveillance, maritime borders need more attention.
  • Governments need to adopt a balanced approach while employing technology in the field of BSM.
  • Corruption and bribery have been identified as common risks which undermine overall efforts to devise and implement robust BSM policies.

More links

 GCTF Insights

Stay informed by following us on our social media channels or sign up to our newsletter.