Research & Analysis

Academic institutions and the evidence-based research that they produce play an important role in supporting the work of the Counter-Terrorism Committee and its Executive Directorate (CTED).

In its resolution 2129 (2013) the Security Council directs CTED to identify emerging issues, trends and developments relating to relevant Security Council resolutions. In accordance with the resolution, and in order to strengthen its existing research and analysis capabilities, CTED launched the  Global Research Network (GRN) in February 2015.

The GRN enables CTED to leverage the expertise of research institutes and think tanks from across the globe. Consisting of over 100 leading research institutions, it provides CTED with evidence-based research insights from diverse regional perspectives.

Through this collaborative exchange of information and analysis, CTED is able to keep abreast of emerging terrorism trends, developments and challenges, as well as effective approaches to address them.

In its resolutions 2395 (2017) and 2617 (2021), the Council reiterates CTED’s essential role within the United Nations to identify and assess issues, trends and developments, and notes the value of CTED’s relationships with, inter alia, academia, think tanks and international, regional and subregional organizations, in promoting an analysis of emerging threats and trends.

CTED regularly brings relevant research outcomes and analysis, as well as other issues raised by its research partners, to the attention of the 15 members of the Committee and the wider United Nations membership. The GRN therefore facilitates unique dialogue between researchers and policymakers on issues of concern to the Security Council, the Committee, and United Nations Member States.

In an effort to broaden this exchange of information of analysis and expertise, CTED produces several regular publications, which help to facilitate two-way communication between the GRN and the broader counter-terrorism policymaking community. Those publications include regular CTED research digests, a GRN newsletter, Trends Reports, Trends Alerts and Analytical Briefs. 

CTED continues to seek engagement with institutions from different regions producing evidence-based research that is relevant to the work of the Committee and CTED. Please contact us at cted-par@un.org. 

• You can access all of CTED’s publications here.

• Download the CTED factsheet about research.

CTED’s Global Research Network

The Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED) launched its Global Counter-Terrorism Research Network (GRN) in February 2015. The GRN - which now brings together over 100 leading research institutions from across the globe - helps CTED keep abreast of emerging terrorism trends, and to identify and share good practices in the implementation of the relevant Security Council resolutions by Member States.