Providing Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Expertise for the Strong Cities Network

The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Counterterrorism's (CT) goal is to deny terrorism new recruits by reducing sympathy and support for violent extremism. CT achieves this goal along three lines of effort: (1) engaging communities at-risk of recruitment and radicalization to violence, including by providing positive alternatives to such populations; (2) countering and undermining violent extremist narratives and messaging; and (3) building partner nation and civil society capacity to counter violent extremism. CT invites not-for-profit, non-governmental organizations and educational institutions to submit applications to provide expert Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) advice to, and design and implement CVE capacity-building activities to support, the Strong Cities Network (SCN), a global network of local authorities united in building social cohesion and community resilience to counter violent extremism. The activities would focus on local – especially municipal – officials and officers who are members of the SCN and would include efforts to recruit additional cities and subnational authorities to join the network. Work would focus on the priorities identified by the SCN International Steering Committee members at their inaugural meeting in New York in September 2015 €“ particularly, strengthening strategic planning and practices among local government representatives and building the capacity of local practitioners to prevent the spread of violent extremism. The network will catalyze, inspire and multiply community-centric approaches and action to counter violent extremism while respecting the fundamental rights of citizens. CT intends to award, via a cooperative agreement, up to approximately $700,000 for SCN activities, contingent upon the availability of funds.