What it Takes to Safeguard Civic Space While Countering the Financing of Terrorism
Author : Global Center on Cooperative Security
Date : September 2024
Measures to counter the financing of terrorism (CFT) can constrain civic space and nonprofit operations. Lingering misperceptions of the nonprofit sector as higher risk for terrorism financing delay and disrupt banking channels that jeopardizes civil society and humanitarian operations. Governments have abused CFT measures to target human rights defenders, advocacy groups, and political dissidents.
In recognition of this issue, the Global Center launched a three-year initiative to advance CFT policies and practices that safeguard civic space, human rights, and financial access for NPOs. The initiative is informed by the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum Good Practice Memorandum on Ensuring the Implementation of Countering the Financing of Terrorism while Safeguarding Civic Space, co-led by the Netherlands, Morocco, and the United Nations and implemented by the Global Center.
With support from the Netherlands, the Global Center provided training, networking opportunities, and pilot funding to ten civil society partners in East and West Africa. Partners led efforts that strengthened collaboration between NPOs and governments on CFT measures and built the capacity of nonprofits to mitigate terrorism financing risks. This report highlights impact stories from each program and compiles partners’ reflections on key roadblocks and factors of success. These reflections contribute to the growing dialogue on how to ensure CFT measures do not restrict civic space.
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