Ashgabat, 8-12 November 2021:  UNDP completed a week-long training for the national partners from all velayats of the country on preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) within the framework of the Turkmenistan Country Component of the Global Project on “Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism in Asia” (STRIVE Asia). A joint EU-UN partnership.”

The training was conducted according to the P/CVE curriculum developed by the Hedayah International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism and delivered by the UNDP national trainers in 6 pilot cities: Ashgabat, Dashoguz, Mary, Tejen, Turkmenabat and Turkmenbashy.

It should be highlighted that UNDP national trainers successfully completed a three-week online training of trainers on P/CVE in October 2021, which was organized by the UNDP in partnership with Hedayah International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism. National trainers from all regions of Turkmenistan were trained by the leading experts in countering and preventing violent extremism and awarded certificates for successfully completing the P/CVE course. They were equipped with all necessary skills and knowledge to conduct a similar training for national partners.

Specialists of the Local Employment Departments of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan, Hakimliks, police departments, Youth Organization and Women's Union of Turkmenistan actively participated in the P/CVE trainings conducted by UNDP national trainers in STRIVE Asia pilot cities. It should be noted that participants are members of the advisory groups that were formed in each pilot city as part of the STRIVE Asia project.

The aim of the training was to introduce the best practices in preventing and countering violent extremism and to strengthen the capacity of national partners in developing and designing PVE programs. Training materials comprised presentations, training manuals for participants, handouts and videos that provided opportunity to hold trainings interactively.

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The Country Component of the Global Project on “Strengthening Resilience to Violent Extremism in Asia” (STRIVE Asia). A joint EU-UN partnership” aims to strengthen the resilience of local communities by supporting public PVE initiatives, supporting government and public organizations to achieve goals related to preventing and countering violent extremism among vulnerable populations, including youth. The specific goal is to ensure that key government agencies and civil society organizations are better prepared to participate in achieving PVE goals.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan is a key national partner of the project.