Improving Livelihoods of Conflict-Affected Populations (ILCP) in Douentza District, Mopti

(IRC) in Mali. The project aimed to contribute to the well-being of drought-affected and food-insecure communities in Douentza district. The project duration was from May 27, 2015, to May 31, 2016, with a budget of $2,420,000. During the second quarter of 2015, the security situation in Douentza District remained relatively calm, except in Mondoro commune, where the security situation was more volatile. In September 2015, three members of the project team were attacked by a group of armed men while on duty in the village of Ouro Allaye Tem. The project team resumed field visits and is engaging with local authorities to devise a plan to improve security conditions. The rainy season began in June 2015, and some villages remained difficult to access by road due to mud. Motorcycles were used instead to facilitate access. The project team conducted a five-day training on cash distribution in Douentza, led by Cash Learning Partnership (CaLP) trainers. All 23 staff members participated in the training. The project team validated beneficiary lists through a four-step beneficiary identification plan, which included village selection, population profiling, beneficiary targeting, and validation of beneficiary lists. The team conducted a general population census and household profiling exercise to determine the beneficiary base. Beneficiary targeting was done by classifying households into categories based on criteria developed by village selection committees. The validation of beneficiary lists was completed during general village meetings, and home visits were conducted to confirm beneficiary names and physical presence in the village. The project team designed beneficiary cards for 3,096 households, which included photos of beneficiaries and their representatives. The colored cells with the IRC logo served as proof of payment. The distribution of beneficiary cards was ongoing, with the exception of the village of Ouro Allaye Tem, where personal details were not yet available. The IRC contracted a local bank to undertake the cash distribution, which met the required criteria, including knowledge of the context, experience in cash distribution, and capacity to ensure cash before and during the distribution. The first distribution was delayed and was scheduled to start in early October 2015. The subsequent distribution was planned to take place in January 2016, and a third distribution was planned to take place in March 2016. The project team also worked on an awareness-raising package, which included developing awareness-raising modules with an external consultant. The consultant was recruited and designed the package, which would be trained to the project team. The training was planned to be completed in mid-November, after which awareness-raising sessions would be held. The primary challenge during the reporting period was the lack of security in some parts of Douentza, where the project team was attacked while carrying out beneficiary validation activities. The project team continues to engage with local authorities to find a way to gain access to beneficiaries while ensuring their safety.