The CTCoE is anchored on three operational pillars to deliver on its mandate:
Pillar I: Research, Analysis and Timely Dissemination of CT Related Information
One of the key pillars of the Centre is Research and analysis. The Centre identifies areas of interest from within the region related to global events and engages scientific, evidence-based inquiry of the matter to advance findings that will assist in shaping policy and decision making in the region. The Centre subsequently reports to the Chiefs of Police before publishing such findings on its website and in journals. The Centre is currently working on two major research papers:
- The financing of terrorism and nexus between Terrorism and Transnational Organized Crime;
- Information and Intelligence sharing: The missing link between police and prisons organisations in combating terrorism:
- Al-Shabaab during COVID-19: Implications for law enforcement.
The Centre collects information and raw data for analysis regarding terrorism and violent extremism activities. Once analyzed, it may form useful intelligence for further use by operational law enforcement units in the region. Such data may additionally form the basis for Situation and Trends reports in the region.
Pillar II: Coordinated Planning and Action Against Terrorism
As part of the mandate of the EAPCCO, the CTCoE has a key function to plan, coordinate and evaluate national, regional and cross border operations that will be aimed at addressing key terrorism related issues, and to boost the capabilities in the region. Under this pillar, the Centre continues to engage National authorities and partners in order to deliver on the following key activities:
- National capacity building;
- Institutional (CTCoE) Development and Capacity building;
- Building states capacity and strengthening role of partners in counter terrorism;
- Regional and National policies, strategies and good practice guidelines (SOPs);
- Planning, coordinating and evaluating cross border operations and regional joint exercises.
This crucial pillar allows the Centre to interact with law enforcement units and practitioners which makes the work timely and relevant. It enables the Centre to tailor its approach to planning measures addressing issues that affect the region.
Pillar III: Sharing of Experiences and Best Practices Among Member Countries and Other INTERPOL Regions
This pillar allows the Centre to look beyond the borders of the EAPCCO region to benefit from the activities and standards of others. Other regional arrangements around the globe have practices and cultures that if emulated, could improve the delivery of operational services in our region. For instance, there is a lot of good practices in the area of CT related information gathering, analysis and dissemination in the European Union by the EUROPOL. Their ability to provide reliable Situation and Trends report is enviable.
Major activities under this pillar include:
- Public awareness on prevention of terrorism and violent extremism;
- Benchmarking and sharing of good practices;
- Establishing and promoting key engagements in terrorism prevention;
- Stakeholders forum to exchange and share experiences and good practices.