Smarter investment can help prevent violent extremism. Here's how
Extremist groups are using the pandemic to promote their agendas, just as more young people are becoming vulnerable to becoming radicalized. The amount of funding available to push back against violent extremism is shrinking. However, smarter use of available funds can help NGOs to do more with less. Here's how to achieve this. Around the world, existing and sometimes new violent extremist groups are using the COVID-19 pandemic to accelerate their rhetoric against governments, minorities and international organizations . At the same time, more individuals – especially young people – are becoming vulnerable to the appeal of violent extremism; in lockdown, spending even longer online, facing increasing economic uncertainty, and unable to participate in the educational, social and religious events that have traditionally helped insulate them. Yet just when more investment is required to push back against extremist agendas and bolster resilience, less is now available.