GCTF Initiatives 2025 - 2026

GCTF Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism

The GCTF Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism gathered and discussed evidence on the relationship between the effects of climate change and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, particularly in regions like the East and Horn of Africa. Led by Germany and Kenya – and supported by the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund as implementing partner – the Initiative built on existing GCTF outputs* to create a toolkit that employs case studies and lessons learned to inform a set of non-binding practical recommendations for practitioners and policymakers.

The Initiative recognized the detrimental effects of climate change on livelihoods, resource availability, and overall stability – factors which may contribute to fragilities in society which could in turn be exploited by parties motivated by violent extremism conducive to terrorism. The final toolkit was a result of collaboration and coordination with governments, civil society, international and regional organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, thereby incorporating diverse considerations and perspectives on the interlinkages between the effects of climate change and violent extremism conducive to terrorism when developing and implementing appropriate policy and programming.

*GCTF Recommendations, Memoranda, Good Practices and other guiding documents are non-binding, and their implementation should always respect national sovereignty and consider countries' varied histories, cultures, legal systems, and norms.

• Recommendations for Funding and Enabling Community-Level P/CVE
• Memorandum on Good Practices on Strengthening National-Local Cooperation (NLC) in P/CVE
• Ankara Memorandum on Good Practices for a Multi-Sectoral Approach to Countering Violent Extremism
• Good Practices on Women and Countering Violent Extremism
  • Addendum to the GCTF Good Practices on Women and CVE with a Focus on Mainstreaming Gender
• Antalya Memorandum on the Protection of Soft Targets in a Counterterrorism Context
• Rome Memorandum on Good Practices for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Violent Extremist Offenders
• The Hague Good Practices on the Nexus between Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism

GCTF Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems and New, Emerging, and Disruptive Technologies Initiative

The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and linkages with new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes is rapidly advancing. Greater stakeholder understanding and informed action are required to address potential dual-use capabilities in counterterrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism conducive to terrorism. As States grapple with how to embrace new and emerging technologies as they relate to UAS, terrorists will continue to exploit and leverage these technologies. The GCTF has made strides in understanding the threat posed by UAS for terrorist purposes but more needs to be done.

Co-chaired until January 2026 by the United Kingdom and the United States, the GCTF Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems and New, Emerging, and Disruptive Technologies Initiative worked to better understand the potential security impact of three key types of emerging technologies:

1. artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML);
2. production of Small and Light Weapons (SALW) through 3D printing and related mechanisms; and
3. the expanding nature of unmanned systems to sea, land, and air domains. 

This initiative helped the UAS community address and counter the nefarious use of enhanced capability unmanned systems by terrorists and highlighted the legitimate uses of emerging unmanned systems capabilities, as well as security-related challenges associated with their integration into national and international environments.