The first Annual Forum of Beneficiaries of Technical Assistance on countering terrorism, which was organized by the State of Qatar and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), concluded Thursday in Doha.
The forum, being held for the first time, is an opportunity to bring together beneficiaries, providers, and donors of technical assistance and capacity building in countering terrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism.
The forum aims to review results-based performance and the progress made by the UNOCT in implementing the programs, projects, and activities financed by the State of Qatar to improve them.
At the opening session, HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi announced the renewal of Qatar’s support for UNOCT with an amount of USD15 million annually for three years from 2024 to 2026.
HE Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov expressed his deep thanks to the State of Qatar and its support for international efforts to combat terrorism.
He said that the beneficiaries forum is the first large-scale event of the UNOCT, bringing together beneficiaries, providers, and donors of technical assistance to assess progress and policy performance, coordination and capacity-building work undertaken to come up with better policy guidelines and recommendations for the design, implementation, and strengthening of technical assistance with Counter-Terrorism Compact entities and the national, regional and global partners.
HE Director of the International Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Interior, Chairman of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee Major, General Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Ansari, affirmed the State of Qatar’s contribution to strengthening the global legal system to combat terrorism through the implementation of all international and regional decisions and strategies related to combating terrorism.
In his statement to the forum, he said that the State of Qatar, when implementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, was keen to fully respect international conventions on human rights and international humanitarian law and all other international covenants that protect human dignity and fundamental freedoms.
His Excellency added that given Qatar’s aspiration for continued cooperation with the UN, and its vision to establish the UN House in Doha, the State of Qatar has supported the various UN offices through multiple agreements, believing that it is the most important umbrella in consolidating the concept of international peace and security.

For her Part, HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Ambassador Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al-Thani described the forum’s sessions and discussions as constructive and useful, highlighting the tireless efforts of the UNOCT and its implementing partners, particularly members of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact to provide technical assistance and capacity-building assistance in the field of preventing and combating terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism for the benefit of a wide range of beneficiaries around the world.
In her speech at the end of the forum, she expressed Qatar’s pride in its expanded and effective partnership with the UNOCT which contributed to facilitating the fulfillment of its mandate and the strengthening of its core activities of leadership, policy, and coordination across the UN system of all counter-terrorism efforts, and its organization and facilitation of high-level regional conferences, organizing the UN Counter-Terrorism Week and the effective implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact, including the Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Platform.
Her Excellency stated that the State of Qatar’s partnership with the UNOCT in organizing this international forum represents the keenness of both parties to direct strategic priorities to make the most of the initiatives, programs, and projects undertaken by the office and its implementing partners.
She said that improving the efficiency and effectiveness of these activities, and ensuring that supporting financial contributions achieve the greatest impact with the least possible resources requires an evaluation of results-based performance and progress achieved and an examination of opportunities and challenges.
Her Excellency also stressed the importance of the commitment of the UNOCT to the principles of accountability and transparency to ensure the highest possible effectiveness and efficiency, and that the programs it undertakes respond to the needs and priorities of the beneficiaries.
Her Excellency expressed the State of Qatar’s aspiration to continue close cooperation regarding the various existing joint projects, affirming the State of Qatar’s continued support for the UNOCT.
The forum was attended by several senior officials and representatives of the Member States, international and regional organizations, civil society organizations, and members of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact.
At the conclusion of its work, the forum approved the preparation of an outcome document of the beneficiaries forum with main guidelines on best practices and recommendations to consider enhancing technical and capacity-building assistance provided by the UNOCT and its implementing partners in the future.