Search initiated the CODED project in December 2023, an eight-month initiative supported by USAID Harmoni, that aims to improve community-grounded programs to disengage violent extremism offenders through a standardized disengagement process in East Java, with a particular focus on the most vulnerable regions to VE in Indonesia.
Context
Addressing radicalization and violent extremism in Indonesia requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond incarcerating terrorists. Imprisonment can worsen radicalization, and reintegration is challenging due to societal stigma and psychological trauma. The Indonesian government, through agencies like the National Agency to Combat Terorrism (BNPT) and Police Anti-Terror Special Detachment 88, and the Directorate General of Correction (DGC) has shown commitment to counterterrorism through legal enforcement and soft approach mechanisms. The soft approaches include positive narratives posted in the media that can counter violent extremism views and the community based psychosocial services that can help disengage the newly released terrorism inmates from their old terrorism networks. To ensure their successful disengagement upon their release, DGC organized after-care initiatives that involved groups of communities called groups of communities with concerns of correction (Kelompok Peduli Pemasyarakatan, Pokmas Lipas). Under the initiatives, ,DGC collaborates with various stakeholders to support the reintegration of former extremists. However, traditional approaches, such as ideological debates and financial support, have limited impact due to their one-size-fits-all nature. Therefore, through CODED, Search introduces disengagement solution that considers individual needs, psychological well-being, and community dynamics, emphasizing the importance of psychosocial support to break the cycle of violence and foster social cohesion, and integrating these personalized approaches remains a challenge for Indonesia.
Theory of Change
IF members of Pokmas Lipas acquire increased skill and knowledge competence in providing psychosocial support for former VE-offenders and state actors advance their disengagement policy through an inclusive and collaborative manner THEN community groups will be better equipped to assist former VE-offenders to disengage from their harmful networks.
Core Objectives and Activities
Search seeks to enhance community-grounded programs to disengage violent extremism offenders through a standardized disengagement in East Java by championing Pokmas Lipas as disengagement centres that prioritize on psychosocial approach for their clients who are former VE-offenders. This wil be achieved by developing a curriculum and and capacity strengthening for Pokmas Lipas in the provision of psychosocial support focused on disengagement, in the target areas of Surabaya and Malang. To catalyze support for this approach, a policy brief outlining the establishment of a “disengagement center” to incorporate comprehensive strategies for addressing VE-offenders will be developed and conveyed to the local government authorities and stakeholders.
Search’s Activities and Impact
- 187 participants, 43% of them (81 out of 106) female, engaged in Search’s training for P/CVE to increase human resource capacity for psychological support and fostering state and community actor collaboration. Survey results show that 94.4% of respondents reported utilizing the knowledge and skills gained from training sessions.
- A comprehensive learning module was designed to empower human resources in delivering psychological support to foster disengagement of former VE offenders. Participants also contributed to developing the program’s module, ensuring it was crafted with input from a diverse range of stakeholders and fostering further collaboration. The module’s effectiveness can be seen by the participants reporting significant knowledge gains, with pre-tests scores improving from an average of 6 to post-test scores of 80.
Stakeholder collaboration throughout the project facilitated valuable exchanges of insight, fostering better coordination among state and community actors. Through this collaboration, a comprehensive policy brief was developed and presented to key government stakeholders. This collaboration brought together 92% (24 out of 26) of the state and community actors involved in this project and 92% of survey respondents reported increased collaboration between state and community actors, reflecting a high level of engagement and commitment to creating a supportive and effective network for disengagement efforts.
