15 January 2026, Islamabad — Funded by the European Union (EU), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), convened the National Workshop on Partnerships and Sustainability in Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) at the Mövenpick Hotel Islamabad. The two-day workshop brought together 32 civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Pakistan supported under the NACTA–UNODC programme, providing a national platform to reflect on impact, share learning, and chart a collective way forward for community-led prevention efforts.
The workshop opened with a strategic overview of the programme’s objectives and implementation journey, setting the stage for a series of organizational showcases held across both days. DG PVE/ Planning and Analysis, NACTA, Muhammad Ali Yousaf in his inaugural speech appreciated the project efforts and emphasized sustenance of these activities via CSO networks. He added that owing to prevailing security situation, its important to work on prevention of extremism. In upcoming sessions, CSOs presented their project backgrounds, geographic reach, and thematic focus, followed by detailed accounts of key activities, innovations, and challenges encountered during implementation. Presentations were grounded in evidence from the field and highlighted how locally rooted interventions are addressing drivers of violent extremism at the community level.
Organizations shared insights from their work with youth, women, faith actors, educators, and vulnerable communities, demonstrating how trust-based engagement, dialogue, and inclusion contribute to resilience and social cohesion. Human stories from diverse contexts illustrated the tangible impact of prevention initiatives, while also pointing to the complexity of addressing deeply rooted social and structural factors.
A strong emphasis was placed on lessons learned. CSOs reflected candidly on what proved effective, where approaches required adaptation, and the operational constraints faced on the ground. Key themes included the importance of local ownership, sustained community presence, adaptive programming, and the need for stronger coordination across actors. Participants also highlighted gaps in funding continuity and challenges in capturing and communicating qualitative change.
Discussions on partnerships and network-based action marked a shift from individual projects to collective impact. CSOs explored how prevention activities can be better aligned under the UNODC-supported PVE networks, identifying opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and joint advocacy. The conversations reinforced that sustainable prevention requires coordinated action rather than isolated interventions.
The workshop concluded with a forward-looking strategic group exercise focused on sustainability and the way forward. Participants jointly outlined elements of an actionable roadmap aimed at transitioning from short-term, project-based engagement toward longer-term, collaborative, and scalable PVE and PCVE efforts across Pakistan.
The event closed with a certificate distribution ceremony by DG NACTA who appreciated CSO efforts and shared commitment to deepen partnerships between civil society, national institutions, and development partners, ensuring that community-driven prevention initiatives continue to evolve and endure. By creating evidence, collaboration, and sustainability, the workshop reaffirmed the vital role of civil society in strengthening Pakistan’s prevention ecosystem and advancing lasting peace at the community level.
This activity marks a significant milestone of the project- CPTP, Countering and Preventing Terrorism in Pakistan. Funded by the EU, led by NACTA and executed by UNODC (Pakistan) with its partner civil society organizations like Hands Pakistan, the project aims at empowering community resilience against violent extremism and acts of violence.
