Project Momentum-MENA

Gender Mainstreaming and Combating Transnational Organized Crime

Timeframe: 2022-2025

Budget: EUR 3 million

Donor: European Union

Countries involved

Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia

The situation

Understanding the threat of transnational organized crime and the evolution of its methods, will enable law enforcement to craft more innovative strategies for preventing and combating it with an effective response.

Research shows that women have been increasing their active roles in criminal organizations for decades, not only participating passively as family members of gang members but also directly in illegal activities, including leading some of the largest drug cartels and mafia organizations.

Overlooking this trend of gender roles in organized crime creates a gap in national and regional security response.

Project objective

MOMENTUM is a three-year capacity-building initiative to develop and reinforce national and regional law enforcement capacities against organized crime while strengthening gender mainstreaming policies in law enforcement agencies.

Stakeholder engagement

One of the key modes of stakeholder engagement is through the Advisory Board meetings, which, beyond providing project updates, play a critical role in providing strategic input, addressing training and capacity-building needs, and identifying challenges in integrating gender mainstreaming into law enforcement in the MENA region. The board comprises of representatives from each of the participating countries, which enables effective coordination between their National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and the project team. Meetings are held biannually discuss opportunities and set priorities for upcoming initiatives.

Professional Fellowship Programme

Project Momentum established a fellowship programme designed to empower female police officers from the MENA region, by enhancing their professional competencies and equipping them to drive impactful change within their national law enforcement contexts. The unique 12-week programme started in September 2024, offering hands-on experience across INTERPOL directorates, including the use of specialized tools and databases, and the delivery of courses and training events.

The first fellowship trainee, a police officer from Tunisia, was selected through a competitive process. During the programme, she supported Project Momentum training sessions while benefitting from direct mentorship.

Project updates

December 2024

Fundamentals of Cybercrime Investigations, Tunis, Tunisia

Organized in partnership with CyberSouth+, a regional project under the Council of Europe, this four-day training brought together more than 40 female cybercrime investigators, analysts, prosecutors and judges from seven EU Southern Neighborhood countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia). The sessions focused on enhancing the skills and knowledge of women in law enforcement and the judicial sector in investigating and prosecuting cybercrime cases.

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Women at the Forefront of Cybercrime Justice
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Women at the Forefront of Cybercrime Justice
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Women at the Forefront of Cybercrime Justice
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Women at the Forefront of Cybercrime Justice
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November 2024

Fundamentals of Open-Source Intelligence, Amman, Jordan

Approximately 30 investigators and criminal intelligence analysts from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Tunisia explored the latest trends in online open-source intelligence, the use of I2 Notebook Analysis, hypothesis development and presentation, and the legal mechanisms in the MENA region for converting criminal intelligence into admissible evidence for prosecutions.

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Enhancing policing with open-source intelligence
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Enhancing policing with open-source intelligence
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Enhancing policing with open-source intelligence
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Enhancing policing with open-source intelligence
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October 2024

Leadership in Law Enforcement for Female Police Officers, Lyon, France

More than 20 female police officers from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine and Tunisia gathered to strengthen their leadership skills, preparing them for various leadership and decision-making roles within their respective national law enforcement agencies.

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Empowering female leaders in law enforcement
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Empowering female leaders in law enforcement
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Empowering female leaders in law enforcement
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Empowering female leaders in law enforcement
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September 2024

Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Investigations Training, Floriana, Malta

Organized in partnership with the EuroMed Justice Project, this training session sought to enhance the investigative capabilities of over 50 participants from law enforcement and judicial authorities of Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Palestine- and Tunisia. The training focused on several topics including identifying indicators, new criminal patterns, leading proactive investigations in the absence of victim cooperation, and prosecuting traffickers and smugglers successfully within a human rights framework, while adopting a victim-centric approach.

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Engaging participants in table-top exercises
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Discussing the role of gender-based analysis
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Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Investigations Training
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March-May 2024

Train-the-Trainer Course

Participants from Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia completed the first two modules of this course, conducted entirely online through the INTERPOL Virtual Academy. This instructor-led course aimed to enhance participants’ skills on effectively designing and delivering trainings in an online environment. Trainees will continue the programme in 2025, with the final module focusing on the design and delivery of in-person trainings, after which successful participants will become INTERPOL certified instructors.

 

July 2023

INTERPOL Policing Capabilities Programme (IPCP)

Project Momentum launched its first training course under the IPCP, bringing together 53 law enforcement officials from INTERPOL National Central Bureaus and specialized units across seven countries, including 15 female officers. Participants gained a foundational understanding of INTERPOL’s mission, legal frameworks, and tools for combating cross-border crimes, with an emphasis on gender equality and inclusion.

For the latest updates on Project Momentum, follow INTERPOL’s Training accounts on LinkedIn and X