HO-CT Inclusive Peace The Conflict Transformation (CT) global project builds on the projects developed in Niger, Afghanistan and Pakistan for the Conflict <(>&<)> Fragility (C<(>&<)>F) Theory of Change of the Strategic Partnership. For the overall programme on Conflict <(>&<)> Fragility two themes have been identified as central focus areas: ensuring peace <(>&<)> security and the role of private sector in conflict. For peace <(>&<)> security local needs, realities, and voices are often not or insufficiently heard, recognized or considered by policy makers, both national and international. Also the implementation of existing policies fails to address local needs, even moreso the specific needs of women and marginalized groups. Oxfam Novib aims to bridge the gap between policy and implementation, prioritize bottom-up approaches and push for active involvement of local actors and civil society partners. Within the CT global project focus has been given to preventing violent extremism.

Violent extremism is a growing trend with an alarmingly growing number of groups with similar ideological leanings such as the already established groups of Boko Haram, Al Qaeda, Al Shabab and ISIS. But violent extremism is by no means confined to religious motivation, but can equally be driven by political, ideological or ethnic identities. The spread of violent extremism has led to an intensification of insecurity that goes beyond safety but encompasses of human security including the economic, cultural, social and political dimensions as well as Human Rights across regions. Violent extremists pose a direct threat to the enjoyment of human rights, ranging from the right to life, the right to liberty and security of a person, to freedom of expression, association, and thought, conscience and religion.

The UN's Plan of Action on Violent Extremism warned that "violent extremism threatens to reverse much of the development progress made in recent decades. By exploiting development challenges,  such as inequalities, poverty and poor governance, violent extremism further exacerbates these grievances and thereby createsa vicious cycle of decline which affects marginalized groups in particular. At present the world - especially among key players of global politics - is gripped by fear of rising violent extremism that undermines trends towards peace and security, gender justice, sustainable development and the protection of human rights. Many key players - including national governments of regions directly affected by an increase in violent extremism - have and still understand extremism as
part of terrorism. With the coining of the term #war on terror,# the response to violent extremism has been primarily through the use of force. And this trend is not restricted to responses in the developing world but often the default answer of states in the developed world too. Nevertheless there is a growingawareness "that such counter-terrorism measures have not been sufficient to prevent the spread of violent extremism. Violent extremism encompasses a wider category of manifestations and there is a risk that a conflation of the two terms may lead to the justification of
an overly broad application of counter-terrorism measures, including against forms of conduct that should not qualify as terrorist acts."2 The often-narrow military approach to security concerns has inadvertently contributed to radicalization and expansion of violence in several countries during recent years. Additionally, closing space for civil society and peaceful political activities has further facilitated the expansion of violent extremism and terrorism. Crackdowns on political dissent and diminishing space for political freedom has served to reinforce extremist narratives and has directly contributed to the radicalization of youth. Hence,"there is a need to take a more comprehensive approach which encompasses not only ongoing, essential security-based counter-terrorism measures, but also systematic preventive measures which directly address the drivers of violent extremism that have given rise tothe emergence of these new and more virulent groups." Despite of the growing awareness that traditional security tools alone are insufficient to meet the challenge of violent extremism, donors and governments dealing with rising levels of extremism and violent extremists still opt for securitized approaches instead of a developmental approach addressing the root causes and drivers.

The program aims to achieve the following long-term outcomes:
1.   Governments in the developing and developed world have increased awarenessof the harm caused by a securitized response to extremism and adopt a HR sensitive approach that is increasingly developmental in nature.
2.   More responsive governmental policies and practices that are more inclusive and equitable by addressing systemic causes of marginalization and exclusion of identity groups vulnerable for manipulation and recruitment into radical groups