Mali Peacebuilding, Stabilization and Reconciliation (Mali PSR) Project Final Report

The FGDs aimed to collect key stakeholder perspectives about the results of the Mali PSR project in their regions so far and to examine their recommendations for improvement. Participants included members of Mali PSR Community Engagement Committees (CECs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSO) representatives. A total of 12 FGDs were conducted with 97 participants, of which 51 were men and 46 were women. The FGD series was implemented using the ORID methodology, which stands for Observation-Reflection-Insight-Decision. This structured discussion process aimed to evaluate development projects by asking participants to share their concrete observations, reflect on these observations, provide insights, and make actionable recommendations. Mali PSR was commended for its inclusive multi-actor approach, which enabled community stakeholders to appropriate the initiative. The project was particularly recognized for its emphasis on activating the roles of women and youth and implicating them in project activities. Participants expressed their satisfaction after participating in awareness activities on the themes of peace and social cohesion. Youth have expressed their desire to join Peace Clubs, and community officials, heads of families, and community leaders have appropriated sensitive issues, such as social cohesion, youth employment, their rights and duties, and the protection of community heritage. Mali PSR is viewed as truly responding to community needs, with participants expressing that the project responds to peace, stability, and reconciliation needs of communities. The project is well recognized for placing women and youth front and center and engaging them as CEC members and as key influencers in activity implementation. Participants have largely commended the Mali PSR approach, which engages women and youth as community mobilizers and emphasizes activities that promote women and youth participation. The project has achieved important positive changes in communities, such as raising awareness about the importance of including women and the critical role women can play in conflict management and preventing violent extremism (PVE). Additionally, in communities where Mali PSR has conducted youth trainings and grants for youth community initiatives, the project has encouraged young people to commit to peace in their communities and to become more productive. Overall, Mali PSR trainings on conflict management and resolution have led community members to adopt dialogue and refrain from escalating conflict situations. However, significant deficits and challenges remain to bring about higher-level and more sustainable outcomes. The slow and inconsistent implementation of Mali PSR project activities were mentioned as significant weaknesses that created frustrations and often discouraged project stakeholders. Additionally, the insufficiency of project activities and grants and the complexity of grant processes are disappointing to community members, particularly youth, who have high expectations and are in critical need of engagement. Mali PSR is also perceived to be insufficiently accompanying women CEC members as they are not paid and struggle to meet expenses needed to mobilize for project activities. The poor communication between Mali PSR and its field partners was also cited as an impediment. FGD participants made several recommendations to help improve Mali PSR effectiveness, including speeding up, expanding, and deepening grant activities. Participants urged Mali PSR to simplify grant application processes to allow more youth groups and other organizations to access Mali PSR grants. They also asked that Mali PSR implements income-generating activities for youth and for women as well. In terms of capacity building activities, participants advocated for these training activities to be sustained and expanded alongside more community outreach and greater inclusion of women in trainings. Finally, participants noted that capacity building activities should be designed to be replicable by designing training of trainer formats to allow conducting cascade trainings in communities and ensure the sustainability of capacity building initiatives.