- Events
Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵ Global Programme on Countering Terrorist Threats against Vulnerable Targets led by the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT) and implemented in cooperation with the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵICRI) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵAOC), held a three-day training workshop in Dakar, Senegal from 24 to 26 March 2026.
The workshop aimed to strengthen national capacities for risk management in the Republic of Senegal, providing specialized training on the dissemination of tools, methodologies, and good practices to improve operational performance. The workshop brought together government representatives, national security agencies, and international experts from CTED, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOWAS), and the Intelligence Centre for Counter-Terrorism and Organized Crime of Spain.
The training activity built on the National Roadmap for the Protection of Vulnerable Targets, jointly developed by the Senegalese authorities, Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT, and CTED, and launched in 2025. The Roadmap identified as priorities the need to harmonize risk management procedures, including threat and vulnerability analysis at the national, regional, and departmental levels, as well as to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, particularly for intelligence sharing and ensuring rapid access to information and risk assessment.
The opening session featured General Daouda Diop, Coordinator of the Interministerial Coordination Framework for Counter-Terrorism (CICO), Mr. Florian Blazy, Minister-Counsellor of the Embassy of France as funding partner of the project, and Ms. Andrea Rodr¨ªguez, Programme Manager of Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵOCT¡¯s Vulnerable Targets Programme, who all stressed the importance of international cooperation to tackle complex security challenges.
Over three days, participants examined the key principles and components of risk management, national and regional threat landscape, as well as sector-specific risk assessment and mitigation and inter-agency coordination in information-sharing. Sessions highlighted good practices to identify vulnerable targets, harmonize risk management procedures, and incorporate gender considerations in the risk management cycle.
A practical exercise on the development of risk management plans was conducted to test coordination among stakeholders at different governance levels within the country. Participants were assigned to working groups, each representing different roles and responsibilities, to practice risk assessment and mitigation measures in response to complex terrorist threats scenarios.
The training also emphasized the importance of regional and international cooperation, particularly for information-sharing, joint trainings, and technical assistance. Experts shared insights on integrated approaches to regional threats and the importance of effective threat monitoring systems.
The workshop concluded with an interactive discussion to identify the technical assistance needed to advance the implementation of the Roadmap guiding Senegal¡¯s efforts to prevent and counter terrorist threats against vulnerable targets.
