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Background & Overview


As UNOCT’s highly anticipated Side Event to the 76th General Assembly, the Office is excited to launch its first-ever “Connect & Learn” Platform. The Platform enables users to “connect” through hosting thematic Community of Practice fora and to “learn” through an eLearning section with courses and modules. Combined, the interactive and innovative Platform transcends barriers to accessing counter-terrorism and prevention of violent extremism trainings, such as cost, pandemic movement restrictions, and remote locations, by offering a comprehensive, widely accessible online capacity-building tool. The “UNOCT Connect & Learn” Platform is one of a kind as it not only offers support to Member States, but also embraces a whole-of-society approach to countering terrorism by bringing together Member States, academia, civil society, and the private sector to encourage the sharing of best practices and lessons learned.


eLearning Platform


The eLearning Platform is UNOCT’s premier online educational tool, enabling the office to consolidate its expertise, advocacy, and programmatic activities into one accessible, cost-effective system utilizing cutting edge technology. Courses on the eLearning Platform will act as a multiplier to existing in-person capacity building training efforts, strengthening the scope and magnitude on the delivery of the Office’s work. It will also allow the Office to expand its ability to provide training to regions where in-person attendance is not feasible. The increased scale of UNOCT’s trainings will also enable UNOCT to provide support to all relevant stakeholders, promoting a whole-of-society approach to more effectively prevent and counter terrorism. Moreover, instructor-led courses will facilitate direct interaction between UNOCT experts and counter-terrorism practitioners. By providing a sustainable solution to expanding the scope and depth of UNOCT’s programmatic activities which accounts for the unique challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic, the eLearning Platform will become an essential tool in the UNOCT’s deliverable work. 

Communities of Practice  


“UNOCT Connect & Learn” unites counter-terrorism practitioners from across the globe through the Platform’s thematic Communities of Practice forum to facilitate information sharing, knowledge sharing, good practices, lessons learned and accelerates the dissemination of UNOCT’s work to relevant stakeholders. Experts from around the world can utilize the thematically categorized niche fora for direct interactions, discussing trends in terrorism and violent extremism and proposing innovative responses to counter the ever-evolving threat of terrorism and violent extremism. The Platform’s Communities of Practice provides a unique opportunity for expert interactions to be diverse. The fora allow for the private sector to consult with the public sector, academia, civil society organizations, and interregional organizations to create a space for a variety of voices and expertise from different backgrounds and geographically diverse locations to share ideas, brainstorm, network, and even conduct joint initiatives. Furthermore, the fora will host UNOCT’s online events, increasing access to the expertise of UNOCT staff and their partners. By integrating UNOCT’s knowledge-sharing and capacity-building resources into one single online system, Communities of Practice will play a vital role in implementing UNOCT programmatic activities and carrying out UNOCT’s mandate in an effective and efficient fashion.


UNOCT Mandate  


The “UNOCT Connect & Learn” Platform upholds the General Assembly’s UNOCT mandate as it strengthens the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States through a widely accessible online portal, improves visibility, advocacy, and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts by centralizing programmatic activities and thematic expertise, and ensures that due priority is given to counterterrorism across the United Nations system and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the UN Global Counterterrorism Strategy.


UN Global Counter Terrorism Strategy


The newly developed “UNOCT Connect & Learn” Platform offers an opportunity to support Member States in implementing all four pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy as well as pertinent Security Council resolutions. UNOCT’s innovative “Connect & Learn” Platform will enable the office to deliver technical assistance and capacity-building in a cost-effective and far-reaching manner, ensuring that Member States receive human rights compliant, and gender responsive support.