PSR final performance evaluation report : final performance evaluation of the peacebuilding, stabilization, and reconciliation activity

The purpose of the PSR Activity was to inform USAID Mali’s future programming on peacebuilding, stabilization, and disinformation. The evaluation also contributes to building a response to USAID’s learning priorities, which were defined in the Mission’s Performance Management Plan (PMP). The PSR Activity increased partner communities’ resilience to conflict through the establishment of Community Engagement Committees, community-led structures authorized to resolve grievances in a peaceful manner. The Activity marked the first experience for many community leaders, civil society organizations (CSOs), and citizens to participate in the design and review of local development plans. Youth were engaged in many PSR activities, and many changed their attitudes about violent extremism and served as leaders to empower their communities in a productive and peaceful manner. However, delays and constraints with the grant provision process limited the impact of the training and support received. Women’s participation targets were not met across the four PSR objectives, which was likely due to a range of sociocultural factors, as well as a lack of focus on gender in the PSR Activity itself. PSR pivoted in the final years of the Activity to pilot a campaign on mis/mal/disinformation, which helped to change many beneficiaries’ attitudes about social cohesion and living peacefully with other ethnic groups, excombatants, and returnees of conflict.