Mixed Method Study: Gender Differentiated Drivers of Violent Extremism in Central Sahel

Proliferation of jihadist groups has led to a rise in deadly attacks on civilians, resulting in increased fatalities and massive displacement. As of mid-May 2020, 1.2 million people were displaced across the Central Sahel, according to the International Organization on Migration. Research on the drivers of violent extremism in the Central Sahel has identified several key risk factors, including conflict over natural resources, inter-ethnic polarization, weak or absent governance, and abuses by security sector forces. While unemployment and underemployment have been linked to violent extremism in other regions, research suggests that this is not a direct factor in the Central Sahel. Instead, the absence of job opportunities has led some young men to join extremist groups for social status and recognition. Religious or ideological influences are also a factor in violent extremism, but local populations see religion as a guise for other factors behind joining extremist groups. Research on women's involvement in violent extremism in the Central Sahel is limited, but a more in-depth review of the literature has uncovered sources that add to the understanding of how and why women participate in violent extremism in the region. The Sahel CVE Research project aims to fill a knowledge gap about how regional factors and drivers relating to violent extremism play out differently for men and women. The project will use mixed methods research to examine key VE drivers and their interactions with gender in the Liptako-Gourma region. The quantitative study will examine the effects of individual characteristics and context on male and female attitudes towards violent extremism, while the qualitative study will analyze data from focus group discussions and key informant interviews to unpack the relationship between male/female attitudes towards violent extremism and VE drivers. The project's research question is: What are the key VE drivers in three Central Sahelian countries — Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — and how do these drivers differ by gender? The literature review has identified several key risk factors for violent extremism in the Central Sahel region, including conflict over natural resources, inter-ethnic polarization, weak or absent governance, and abuses by security sector forces. The project's findings and lessons learned will enable USAID/WA to draft more nuanced policies and implement more effective programs to counter violent extremism tailored to the local context. The literature review has deepened and updated the one initially conducted during the proposal phase and will be used to inform the subsequent qualitative field research. Search terms included violent extremism, terrorism, violent extremist organizations, terrorist organizations, drivers, gender, women, Central Sahel, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Liptako-Gourma, and West Africa. Sources reviewed include a mix of journalism, policy commentary and analysis, grey literature, and peer-reviewed journal articles. The literature review has identified a need for further research on the relationship between women's involvement in violent extremism and the drivers of violent extremism in the Central Sahel. The project's research will provide a robust and evidence-based analysis of gender-differentiated VE drivers in the three target countries. Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) in the Central Sahel include groups such as the Macina Liberation Front/Katiba Macina, Ansaroul Islam, ISGS, JNIM, and Ansar Dine. These groups have proliferated in the region since the 2012 Malian crisis, and their activities have led to increased fatalities and massive displacement. The project's research will examine the drivers of violent extremism and their interactions with gender in the Liptako-Gourma region. The project's findings will have implications for policy and programming to counter violent extremism in the Central Sahel. The literature review has identified a need for more nuanced policies and programs that take into account the gender dynamics of violent extremism in the region. The project's research will provide a robust and evidence-based analysis of gender-differentiated VE drivers in the three target countries.