Strengthening Strategic Communications on the Local Level.

Enhancing Cooperation and Coordination between Governments, Local Actors, and Key Strategic Partners.

11th of March, 2025

On November 28–29, 2024, the EU Knowledge Hub on Strategic Communications brought together 40 policymakers, local practitioners, Stratcomms experts and strategic partners to advance cooperation and coordination in Strategic Communications for preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE).

Hosted by the Euro-Arab Foundation for Higher Studies in Granda, Spain and supported by the European Commission, NTU Consortium organised an event that emphasised collaboration, innovation, and practical strategies for enhancing local resilience against radicalisation.

Addressing challenges through local Strategic Communications

Discussions highlighted the increasing complexity of local P/CVE challenges, particularly in the digital landscape. Extremist narratives, misinformation, and hate speech continue to undermine social cohesion, with local communities often bearing the brunt of these issues. Participants explored how to better equip local actors, those closest to communities, with tools and resources to effectively counter these threats.

Presentations from the European Forum for Urban Security and Strong Cities Network emphasised the importance of fostering shared capacities between cities to amplify resilience and tailor responses to local challenges, building local resilience against misinformation and disinformation, and underscoring the critical role of municipal leadership in creating informed and unified communities.

One key concern was the disparity in preparedness and resources among local actors. Many municipalities face challenges in designing and implementing strategic communication campaigns that resonate with their communities. This gap necessitates stronger partnerships with national governments, private sector players, and civil society organisations. The meeting highlighted how connecting global initiatives with local communities can strengthen P/CVE strategic communications. By aligning international resources with local insights Member States and Local Authorities can collaborate and support impactful campaigns that resonate at the grassroots level, bridging the gap between policy and practice.

A recurring theme throughout the Granada meeting was the critical role of social listening in shaping effective strategic communications. Participants emphasised that understanding the concerns, perceptions, and emotions of communities is essential for crafting messages that resonate and foster trust. Social listening tools enable local actors to monitor public sentiment, identify emerging narratives, and respond proactively to misinformation or divisive rhetoric.

Key takeaways included the necessity of culturally sensitive messaging, the key role of emotions in P/CVE strategic communications as well as the value of public-private partnerships within multi-agency coordination and cooperation approaches in collaboration with civil society. Participants also identified the need for enhanced resources and tools for local actors to implement and evaluate impactful communication campaigns.

The EU Knowledge Hub strategic communications meeting in Granada served as a milestone in advancing locally-driven strategic communication and laid the groundwork for innovative approaches to P/CVE in future initiatives that will continue to empower local actors and strengthen European social resilience.