UNOCT Global Counter-Terrorism Investigations Programme launches the Foundational Module of its Specialized Training on Counter-Terrorism Investigations
The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) Global Counter-Terrorism Investigations Programme, in partnership with the UNOCT Programme Office and Training Centre in Rabat, and Al-Akhawayn University, has launched the Foundational Module of the Specialised Training on Counter-Terrorism Investigations (STOCTI).
The Foundational Module is the first phase of STOCTI, a university-certified 11-week training programme designed to enhance investigative capabilities through a multi-level capacity-building approach. The programme, accredited by the New England Commission for Higher Education, will award successful participants an Executive Master’s degree upon completion.
The 2025 cohort of STOCTI brings together 24 law enforcement officers from Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Somalia, providing them with the skills necessary to conduct complex counter-terrorism investigations.
Led by global experts from international law enforcement agencies, the module covers a range of key topics, including:
- Human Rights & Gender – Ensuring investigations align with international human rights standards
- Ethical Decision-Making – Strengthening integrity in investigative practices
- Biometrics in Counter-Terrorism – Leveraging forensic identification methods
- Crime Scene Management – Applying forensic techniques in terrorism-related crime scenes
- Investigative Interviewing – Mastering non-coercive questioning techniques
- Border Security Checks – Enhancing security at critical points of entry
- Briefing & Debriefing, Report Writing – Strengthening investigative documentation and analysis
- Victim & Witness Protection – Ensuring safety and support in terrorism-related cases
Delivered by expert partners, notably from International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the Direction générale de la Sûreté nationale (DGSN) of Morocco, the Portuguese Judicial Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX), this training, sets the stage for subsequent training modules.
As a next step, participants will further develop their investigative and analytical skills through specialized training in advanced investigative techniques, intelligence analysis, and digital forensics.
The UNOCT Global Counter-Terrorism Investigations Programme continues to equip security officials and law enforcement personnel with the technical expertise and investigative tools needed to combat terrorism effectively. Through this initiative, STOCTI contributes to long-term institutional capacity-building in Africa.
STOCTI was made possible through the generous support of the Government of Canada, the Government of Italy, the Government of Morocco, the Government of Qatar, and the United Nations Peace and Development Fund. Their contributions will contribute in advancing counter-terrorism capacity-building efforts and fostering stronger, more resilient security institutions across Africa.