Quarterly Report: Mali Peacebuilding, Stabilization, and Reconciliation

in partnership with local organizations, including Association Malienne pour la Survie au Sahel (AMSS) and the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD). The program aims to improve prospects for long-term peace, security, and reconciliation in Mali by building trust between conflict-affected communities and their government, strengthening community conflict mitigation and management capacities, and empowering marginalized youth as change agents. The program's objectives are integrated into three main objectives: Objective 1 focuses on developing and piloting community-led conflict early warning, prevention, and violence-reduction mechanisms through inclusive P2P dialogue activities and technical training and support. Objective 2 involves augmenting Peace and Development Strategic Committees (PDSECs) to codify peacebuilding and conflict-management mechanisms, formalize peace-consolidation activities, and implement them through an inclusive, community-led process. Objective 3 targets youth engagement activities and the creation of alternative livelihoods opportunities to reduce the attraction and influence of violent extremist organizations (VEOs) in project communities. During the reporting period, the project made significant progress in establishing its operational foundations. The project is registered and has all necessary authorizations to operate as an international NGO in Mali. The project financial and procurement systems are in place and functional. However, the project still heavily depends on HQ support due to challenges in staff recruitment, which has been hindered by higher-than-expected salary requests that exceed the budgeted rates. The project has also initiated meetings and begun networking with key implementors in Mali, including USAID-funded programs, international donors, United Nations agencies, and relevant Government of Mali structures. Through these meetings, the project has defined avenues of coordination and partnership in the areas of peacebuilding, stabilization, and reconciliation programming. The project's implementation has been devoted primarily to project startup, emphasizing staff recruitment, onboarding, deployment, and training for expatriate and local personnel. The project has onboarded key staff members, including the Chief of Party, Coordination and Partnership Director, Deputy Chief of Party, Finance Manager, and Technical Leads for Objectives 1 and 2. The project has also identified and secured office spaces in both Ségou and Bamako and established relationships with local and international partner organizations and funders. The project's geographic focus is on 46 conflict-affected communes and communities in the northern and central regions of Mali, including Segou, Mopti, Tombouctou, Gao, Kidal, Menaka, and Taoudeni. The project's goal is to see measurable improvement in the efficiency, effectiveness, and capacities of local communities to be more resilient to conflict and violent extremism. Fostering stability in target regions is a necessary pre-condition for the full and complete implementation of the peace deal and the regional development plans, which will create the conditions for more lasting, durable peace.