Fusion Cells

Programme Description 


UNOCTs 3-year Global Fusion Cells Programme was launched in January 2020 and is funded by the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund (China) as well as the governments of Portugal and Qatar. The programme is being implemented by UNOCT/SPIB in cooperation with CTED, UNPOL, CAERT and Interpol. The programme responds directly to CTED assessments and Security Council Resolutions and focuses on strengthening existing national counter-terrorism structures (Fusion Cells or Centres) that engage in collecting, all – source, all – threat, reporting and provide support through specialist technical assistance.  

Programme Activities


Some of the programme’s main activities include:

  • The programme first conducts National Collection Plan meetings per beneficiary Member State to review and identify gaps in national legal and institutional frameworks, existing standard operating procedures (SOPs), operational readiness, and other relevant mechanisms to determine the national fusion center’s current capacities relating to intelligence collection, analysis, and use, as well as equipment and training needs. 

  • The programme then produces a National Action Plan or “Roadmap” to implement evidence-based capacity and capability-building activity related to information-sharing and coordination mechanisms.  

  • The programme delivers virtual study visits featuring presentations from leading global fusion centre experts who share with beneficiaries their experiences in developing and operationalizing their respective fusion centres, including best practices and lessons learned. 

  • The programme identified, collected, collated, and analyzed all available existing best practices globally to develop a Compendium of Best Practices and Related Guidelines, which provides a detailed "A to Z manual" for beneficiaries on how to establish and operate a fusion cell.  

List of Courses

COURSE 1: Introduction to Fusion Cells Course (open course) 

COURSE 2: Effective Intelligence Writing Course (open course)  

COURSE 3: Briefing and Debriefing Course (open course)  

COURSE 4:  Analyst Course (restricted course) 

COURSE 5: Ethical Decision-Making Course (restricted course)  

COURSE 6: Threat Assessment Course (restricted course) 

COURSE 7:  Ethical Questioning and Elicitation Techniques Course (restricted course) 

COURSE 8: Fusion Cell Managers Course (restricted course) 

COURSE 9: Training of Trainers Course (3 weeks, delivered by UNPOL, restricted course) 

COURSE 10: Open-Source Investigations Course (restricted course) 

COURSE 11: i2 Analyst’s Notebook Course (restricted course) 

COURSE 12: Beginner to Advanced Excel Course (restricted course)