Jakarta (Indonesia), 29 April 2025 – To prevent violent extremism, collaboration between the government of Indonesia and civil society organizations has proven to be crucial, a new study by UNODC reveals. The research has found that existing collaboration is contributing to efforts to prevent and counter violent extremism in the country. However, challenges remain, including institutional constraints, communication, trust-building, and limited resources.
The report, which is based on inputs from both government and civil society stakeholders, provides an analysis of these challenges, positive experiences and best practices as well as recommendations to elevate collaboration efforts between the government and civil society organizations (CSOs). The aim is for the existing collaboration to be more sustainable and institutionalized, while remaining flexible and cognizant of ethical and human rights concerns. The research findings will contribute to the development and implementation of the second phase of the Indonesian National Action Plan for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism that Leads to Terrorism (or RAN-PE 2025-2029, with its Indonesian acronym).
“CSOs provide valuable inputs and play a critical role in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the National Action Plan,” said Andhika Chrisnayudanto, Deputy for International Cooperation at Indonesia’s National Counter Terrorism Agency, or BNPT. “Collaboration between them and the government ensures balanced governmental actions and supports key thematic priorities, including gender mainstreaming, youth empowerment, and human rights.”
Given the complexity of violent extremism, an inclusive and evidence-based approach is essential to better understand challenges, identify gaps, and capture good practices on the ground. The findings of the research are expected to provide relevant inputs to design strategies that are more responsive, participatory and sustainable, while also promoting collaborative governance in line with Indonesia’s commitment to violence prevention and sustainable peacebuilding.
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach in preventing and countering violent extremism, as each situation is unique and local context matters. By strengthening collaboration between governments and CSOs at national and local levels and institutionalizing this collaboration in national and local policies and regulations, a more coordinated, effective and sustainable approach to address violent extremism can be achieved,” said Niki Esse De Lang, UNODC’s regional counter-terrorism coordinator for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
The study, titled Towards Synergy: Research on Government and Civil Society Collaboration in P/CVE Programs in Indonesia, offers a detailed examination of existing partnerships, identifies key challenges, and provides practical recommendations for strengthening future cooperation.
Building partnerships for local implementation
In addition to policy engagement, CSOs contribute to P/CVE efforts through awareness-raising campaigns, training workshops, and community-based initiatives aimed at preventing radicalization. Through close collaboration with government institutions, CSOs have expanded outreach efforts, ensuring that prevention programmes reach individuals who may be vulnerable to extremist narratives. This partnership also includes capacity-building programmes for educators, religious leaders, and youth influencers to strengthen their role in countering violent extremism in their respective communities.
Indonesia’s prevention and countering of violent extremism (P/CVE) action plan already emphasizes the need for collaboration between national policies and community-driven interventions. Key components of this effort are the Regional Action Plans for Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (or RAD-PE), which ensures that RAN-PE, the National Action Plan, is localized and adapted to the specific conditions of different provinces and districts across the large county.
“Effective implementation requires multiple regional meetings and informal dialogues, ensuring that different regions in Indonesia develop a shared understanding with civil society stakeholders. In Indonesia, this process has already progressed beyond consultation, reaching the stage of joint decision-making. At this advanced stage, the central challenge is effectively communicating implementation experiences in regional and global forums while ensuring inclusive monitoring and evaluation,” said Ruby Kholifah, Director of AMAN Indonesia.
As Indonesia prepares for the second phase of RAN-PE (2025–2029), discussions are underway on how to further strengthen coordination mechanisms and knowledge-sharing between government institutions and CSOs. Policymakers are exploring strategies to ensure that multi-sectoral collaboration remains sustainable and that successful initiatives can be institutionalized and scaled up at both national and local levels.
Efforts are also being made to improve data-sharing mechanisms, develop evaluation frameworks for P/CVE initiatives, and streamline regulatory processes to facilitate more effective cooperation among stakeholders. Through capacity-building programmes, research, and policy dialogues, UNODC works closely with Indonesian authorities and CSOs to enhance cross-sector collaboration and the exchange of best practices.
“When implementing the National Action Plan, inclusiveness is essential. This means engaging not only government entities but also society as a whole, especially through civil society organizations (CSOs). One key lesson learned is that adopting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, combined with a multi-stakeholder and multidisciplinary method, is crucial for successful implementation,” BNPT’s Chrisnayudanto said.
Click here to access UNODC’s report titled 'Towards Synergy: Research on Government and Civil Society Collaboration in P/CVE Programs in Indonesia' in English.
Click here to access UNODC’s report titled 'Towards Synergy: Research on Government and Civil Society Collaboration in P/CVE Programs in Indonesia' in Bahasa.
