From the news desk

Organization to tackle extremism at roots

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With the global war on extremism at its highest point in years, criticism continues to mount that a more aggressive model of action has only but further isolated communities where radicalism is most prevalent. Most at risk of falling into the trip are those in smaller and more impoverished areas, where tough socio-economic conditions have seen many driven to the point where taking up arms has become the only viable solution.

To address these conditions, a recently established Geneva-based organisation has embarked on a project to create sustainable financial and corporate development, particularly in ‘at-risk’ areas of Africa. The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (gcerf) aims to provide start-up funding to those situated within the communities themselves, under the belief that they would have the best answers to address the socio-economic issues affecting their people.

Gcerf executive director, Dr Khalid Koser said the global fight against extremism was being fought through something of a spectrum; on the one end a more militarised and intelligence based advance against radical groups, and on the other the provision of alternatives to prevent individuals from becoming radicalised. He stressed that whilst a reactive response was of necessity, it could not serve as the full solution.

The organisation remains relatively new on the block, and are still several months away from actually funding any grassroots initiatives on Africa soil. However, they have reached agreements to become operational in Mali and Nigeria, and are also in discussions with the Kenyan government.

“I think for a long time the international community and the outside world has thought that they have the answers, and Africa is simply there to receive their wisdom. This is great example of where the wisdom lies with the communities. Let’s listen to them, let’s empower them and let them try to find the solutions,” he explained.

He said they were trying to go beyond the usual suspects of major NGOs, to small groups within villages in the heart of the countries, where such funding was most needed.

“Our model is simply to provide small grants with some training to local communities, to allow them to fill the funding gap themselves once our money has been withdrawn. This is a start-ups process,” he noted.

The countries where gcerf are active are seen as particular ‘high-risk’, with Nigeria and Mali battling fierce insurgency’s and Kenya having been victim to several radical attacks in recent years. Koser said these states had volunteered to be a part of the process, and were very much working with them to facilitate the project. He stressed that the governments in question would not be receiving any funding from the organisation.

So far gcerf have managed to raise $25 million in funding from various governments across the globe, which will be ploughed into the project. Apart from Africa, they are also operational in Bangladesh, and are also in discussions with Indonesia, Myanmar and several other South-East Asian countries. VOC (Mubeen Banderker)


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