Vision

Objectives of the Centre

The objectives of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre are:

1. The UNCCT aims at buttressing the implementation of the pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a comprehensive and integrated manner through the development of national and regional Counter-Terrorism Strategy implementation plans;

2. The UNCCT undertakes initiatives aimed at fostering international counter-terrorism cooperation and promote collaboration between national, regional and international counter-terrorism centres and organizations
3. Through collaboration with CTITF working groups, the UNCCT serves a critical role in building capacity of Member States to strengthen their counter-terrorism capability.

6-Point Vision

At the 9^th Meeting of the UNCCT Advisory Board held on 7 November 2014, former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented his Vision Statement on the Future Role of UNCCT. He noted that “world leaders understand that we must mobilize a stronger global response to counter terrorism – that is the mission of the UN Counter-Terrorism Centre”. He expressed the goal to “transform UNCCT into a Centre of Excellence serving the world”. 

In his statement, the Secretary-General noted that the new contribution of US$ 100 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to UNCCT would allow the Centre to go well beyond “business as usual” and to formulate creative ideas that have the potential for deep, meaningful and positive impact in the fight against terrorism at the global, regional and national level.

In this context, the Secretary-General envisions that UNCCT should make a significant contribution in six interrelated priority areas of the United Nations’ counter-terrorism work: 

1. UNCCT should be built into a Centre of Excellence with subject matter expertise on issues that are not covered by other parts of the UN, such as counter-terrorism narratives, counter-radicalization, enhanced dialogue and cooperation between the development and security/counter-terrorism sectors, and terrorist use of the internet.
2. The Centre will provide capacity building for Member States and regional organizations to support the implementation of all four Pillars of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy in a balanced manner. This will be done with a particular focus on countries and regions where the threat from terrorism is particularly acute, such as Afghanistan, Kenya, Nigeria, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, South Asia and the Maghreb.
3. The capacity building efforts should take a strategic approach in the utilization of the resources and must make a difference in the short (Quick Impact), medium and long term. […]
4. UNCCT will support UN Country Teams, UN Special Political Missions and UN Peacekeeping Operations with expertise to ensure that counter-terrorism is mainstreamed into the Secretary-General’s three main priorities: the prevention of deadly conflict, the promotion of social and economic development in the context of the post-2015 Development Agenda, and the Rights up Front initiative.
5. UNCCT will establish a mechanism to incentivize counter-terrorism by jointly funding capacity building projects. Fund distribution would be contingent on other donors and the recipient country providing matching funds to the project. This modality would have several advantages, including greater impact, greater ownership by the beneficiary, and greater involvement by Member States and other donors
6.  UNCCT will continue to ensure effective programme and project management, including by ensuring that the contribution and the activities financed therefrom are administered in accordance with the applicable UN regulations and rules.

Related documents

• Remarks by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gueterres at 15th Meeting of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre Advisory Board
• Former Secretary-General’s Remarks to the Ninth Meeting of the Advisory Board of the United Nations Centre for Counter-Terrorism (UNCCT)