Effective Intelligence Writing training course delivered to Ghana, Botswana, Uganda, and SADC
On 13 June 2022, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Global Fusion Cells Programme delivered its one-day “Effective Intelligence Writing" for the second time, which was attended by over 35 national-level participants from the national fusion centres and national government bodies as well as agencies responsible for security, counterterrorism, and law enforcement from Botswana, Ghana, Uganda and the regional SADC Secretariat.
The course focused on developing the drafting skills of fusion centre analysts, investigators and managers to ensure that their intelligence reports are written effectively. Policymakers, decision-makers, and leaders rely on clear, concise and accurate intelligence reporting and recommendations to make daily decisions, which affect operations and national security policies, such as improving existing national security measures and countermeasures in response to security threats. The course was developed on the premise that the ability to write reports effectively is a critical skill that ultimately impacts operations and policymaking.
The course also introduced different styles of report writing and introduced basic principles and key guidelines that make an intelligence report more effective. These include tailoring the reports to meet the needs of their users and ensuring that the structure and contents is drafted in an accurate and credible manner.
The Global Fusion Cells training programme is based on a comprehensive building-block approach, which includes developing a broad set of foundational skills in accordance with international standards, to ensure that the fusion centres and counter-terrorism staff work efficiently.
Background
The 3-year Global Fusion Cells Programme was launched in January 2020 to assist Member States in developing national interagency coordination mechanisms such as national fusion and counter-terrorism centres.
These centres pool and analyze information, enable informed decision-making and help prevent attacks from occurring. They therefore contribute to enhancing preparedness and promoting intelligence-led activity. Fusion centres can also help lead investigations to ensure the best evidence is gathered, increase the likelihood of successful prosecution, and contribute to a more effective response to and recovery from a terrorist attack.
The current beneficiaries of the programme include Ghana, Botswana, Uganda, Togo, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the regional body SADC.
The programme is co-funded by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (UNPDF) and the governments of Portugal and Qatar. UNOCT Special Projects Section implements the programme in cooperation with CTED, UNPOL, CAERT, and Interpol.