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

Consolidating efforts to prevent and counter terrorist use of improvised explosive devices in West Africa

Consolidating efforts to prevent and counter terrorist use of improvised explosive devices in West Africa

8 May 2025

Under the mandate of the Co-Chairs, Algeria and Germany, the West Africa Capacity-Building Working Group held an in-person regional meeting to discuss strengthening collaborative efforts to prevent and counter the acquisition and use of IEDs by terrorist groups in the region.

Read more »
Understanding the risks of climate change’s relationship with violent extremism conducive to terrorism and building solutions

Understanding the risks of climate change’s relationship with violent extremism conducive to terrorism and building solutions

15 April 2025

Led by Germany and Kenya, the Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism conducive to terrorism held a virtual workshop exploring solutions and recommendations to consider when addressing the links between climate change and insecurity.

Read more »
Examining current evidence and approaches to the relationship between climate change and violent extremism conducive to terrorism

Examining current evidence and approaches to the relationship between climate change and violent extremism conducive to terrorism

4 March 2025

Led by Germany and Kenya, the Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism conducive to terrorism held a virtual workshop exploring the links between climate change and insecurity, with a focus on the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa.

Read more »
Responding to the challenges emerging from the intersection of violent extremism conducive to terrorism and climate fragility

Responding to the challenges emerging from the intersection of violent extremism conducive to terrorism and climate fragility

28 January 2025

Led by Germany and Kenya, the Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism conducive to terrorism held a virtual workshop exploring the links between climate change and insecurity, with a focus on violent extremism conducive to terrorism in Southeast Asia and West Africa.  

Read more »
2Last

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.