Hedayah

22/10/2026

Ahead of the International Research Conference 2026 ( ), we are pleased to share the policy brief from last year’s conference.

Bringing together insights from RC25’s thematic panels, interactive sessions, and keynote speeches, the brief highlights key discussions and recommendations to inform researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders working to prevent and counter extremism and violent extremism.

These insights provide a foundation for the conversations ahead next week in Malta, where we will once again connect global expertise, exchange knowledge, and strengthen collaboration to address an evolving threat landscape.

The RC25 Policy Brief is now available for download on Hedayah’s website. Further content from the discussions and presentations is available through Hedayah’s YouTube channel.

21/10/2026

As the global landscape of extremism and violent extremism continues to evolve, emerging threats, technological advancements, and increasingly complex challenges call for innovative, evidence-based, and collaborative approaches to prevention and response.

From 26–28 October 2026, Hedayah, in partnership with the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law (IIJ), will convene global experts in Valletta, Malta, for its annual International Research Conference 2026 (RC26), bringing together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, government representatives, and cross-sector experts to exchange knowledge, research, and insights on the evolving landscape of extremism and violent extremism.

This year's conference will examine emerging forms of extremism, the exploitation of the internet and artificial intelligence by extremist actors, evolving criminal justice responses, and approaches to prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration. Through cross-sector dialogue and insights into the experiences of returnees, RC26 will explore how research, policy, and practice can inform the next generation of prevention efforts, strengthen collaborative responses, and advance more effective, evidence-based approaches to countering extremism and violent extremism.

08/10/2026

Across northeast and northwest Nigeria, Hedayah and local partners advance community-led resilience, rehabilitation and reintegration for people and communities affected by extremism and violent extremism.

Two European Union-funded Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE) Global Program projects in Borno and Katsina States, delivered with civil society partners Hallmark Leadership Initiative (HALI) and Wadata Relief Care Initiative (WRCI), support communities affected by armed groups through social cohesion, reconciliation, peacebuilding, comprehensive psychosocial support, vocational and entrepreneurship training, and income-generating opportunities.

In Bama Local Government Area, Borno State, HALI marked four months of vocational skills training for 30 beneficiaries, including survivors of conflict-related violence, unemployed and at-risk youth, and returnees. Participants received essential in-kind starter kits to help them establish sustainable microenterprises and strengthen economic independence.

In Bakori Local Government Area, Katsina State, WRCI provided business start-up kits to 40 vocational and entrepreneurship training graduates to establish businesses. Supporting women and youth affected by extremism and violent extremism, the project combines psychosocial support and income-generating opportunities with community awareness, reconciliation and peacebuilding.

The initiatives aim to reduce vulnerabilities to extremism and violent extremism through local capacity, social cohesion, sustainable livelihoods, and locally led prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration. They support Nigeria’s national prevention and countering frameworks, led by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

This contributes to Hedayah’s wider work across Africa advancing sustainable, locally led, context-specific approaches to preventing and countering extremism and violent extremism.

Wadata Relief Care Initiative - WRCI
Hallmark Leadership Initiative
European External Action Service - EEAS
European Commission

07/10/2026

Hedayah’s Executive Director, H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi, led a high-level mission to Rabat, reinforcing Hedayah’s longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco and key national institutions advancing rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) and preventing and countering extremism and violent extremism.

The delegation held discussions with the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Detainees, Moussalaha Centre, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, alongside international partners. Discussions with Moussalaha Centre brought together the Global Center on Cooperative Security (GCCS), supporting coordination on R&R efforts and engagement with national stakeholders, including the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR).

The mission reflected on progress in Hedayah’s longstanding cooperation with the Mohammed VI Foundation, particularly in supporting the socio-economic rehabilitation and reintegration of women and families affected by extremism program. Discussions explored expanding this work and sharing Morocco’s experience and good practices nationally, regionally and internationally.

H.E. Ahmed Al Qasimi reaffirmed Hedayah’s commitment to working with Moroccan partners, building on local expertise and ownership and drawing on Hedayah’s international experience and networks to support sustainable, locally led approaches to rehabilitation, reintegration and prevention.

The visit also opened new avenues for cooperation with Moussalaha Centre and strengthened coordination with GCCS across complementary areas of work. Discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs further explored opportunities to support Morocco’s international knowledge-sharing and exchange on R&R.

Hedayah thanks its Moroccan partners, including the Mohammed VI Foundation, Moussalaha Centre and DGAPR, and GCCS, for their continued partnership and support, and looks forward to strengthening efforts to prevent and counter extremism and violent extremism in Morocco.

Ministère des Affaires Etrangères
المندوبية العامة لإدارة السجون وإعادة الإدماج

28/09/2026

23/09/2026

23/09/2026

21/09/2026

In Tirana, Hedayah, in partnership with Albania’s National Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and the civil society organisation Institute for Activism and Social Change (IANS), marked the successful completion of the current phase of work to strengthen Albania’s Local Public Safety Councils (LPSCs) and the country’s community-based referral mechanism for preventing and countering extremism and violent extremism.

Since 2024, the initiative has worked across nine municipalities, strengthening coordination among local entities and equipping actors across government, education, employment, social services, health, policing, civil society, and religious communities with practical tools to identify, assess and refer individuals vulnerable to extremism.

The closing event brought together partners and stakeholders to reflect on the program’s evidence, achievements and lessons learned, including:

• 317 individuals were trained in LPSC mechanisms across the nine supported municipalities
• Nine municipalities supported, building on the original five-municipality pilot and expanding the approach to four additional areas
• A Case Management and Referral Guide developed to establish practical and sustainable procedures for local referral mechanisms in Albania

For Hedayah, this milestone represents the transition from direct support to long-term sustainability. Following the support provided to partners in Albania, LPSCs are now equipped to sustain and further advance these efforts independently across the country.

With the support of the European Union through the Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE) Global Program, Hedayah worked alongside IANS and ASSIST, which led implementation across the participating municipalities, in collaboration with Albania’s National Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism, local authorities and stakeholders. We thank all partners involved in helping strengthen locally owned prevention mechanisms across Albania.

The CVE Center - Albania
IANS Albania
Assist Albania Center

16/09/2026

In Tirana, Hedayah, in partnership with Albania’s National Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) and the Interreligious Council of Albania (IRCA), marked the successful completion of the “Messaging Campaigns for Religious and Community Actors in Albania” project. The initiative was supported by the European Union through the Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism (STRIVE) Global Program.

The project strengthened the capacity of 17 religious and community actors to develop contextualized, credible and trust-building messages and engage their communities through strategic communications and digital platforms. Through workshops, mentorship and follow-up support, participants developed practical skills in narrative development, social media strategy, campaign planning, and dialogue facilitation.

A key achievement was the development and delivery of four national messaging campaigns under the overarching “Peace and Harmony” campaign, addressing tolerance, acceptance, coexistence, volunteerism, and anti-bullying.

Over six weeks, the campaign reached communities across Albania through social media, television, outdoor advertising, online media and school-based activities. Key results included:

• Approximately 560,000 people reached through the multichannel campaign.
• 752,979 video plays generated through digital advertising, reaching 254,400 unique viewers across Meta platforms.
• More than 131,000 additional video views generated through influencer content.
• 11,073 visits to the campaign landing page, alongside visibility through television, outdoor placements and six online media outlets.
• More than 5,200 students reached across 16 schools through awareness activities focused on anti-bullying and positive community engagement.

The closing event brought together religious and community actors, government representatives, civil society organizations, media representatives and other stakeholders to reflect on the campaign’s impact, share lessons learned and explore opportunities to build on the expertise and partnerships developed through the project.

Hedayah thanks the European Union, Albania’s National Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism and the Interreligious Council of Albania for their partnership and support.

The CVE Center - Albania
IANS Albania