Mali Peacebuilding, Stabilization, and Reconciliation Implementation Period: April 16, 2018 – April 30, 2023 Quarterly Report October 1 – December 31, 2018 This document was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Creative Associates International, USAID implementing partner under Should PS&R. USAID Point of Contact: Andrew Lucas, COR, [email protected] Prime Partner: Creative Associates International Activity Name: Mali Peacebuilding, Stabilization, and Reconciliation Contract No.: 720-688-18-C-00002 Contents ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 I. PROJECT OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................... 4 II. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS .................................................................................................................... 5 III. IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES: ..................................................................................................... 8 IIIA. FOUNDATIONAL ACTIVITIES............................................................................................................... 8 IIIB. OBJECTIVE 1: RESILIENCE TO VIOLENCE AND CONFLICT REINFORCED .............................................. 11 IIIC. OBJECTIVE 2: PARTICIPATORY GOVERNANCE AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT STRENGTHENED IN CONFLICT-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES 12 IIID. OBJECTIVE 3: EMPOWERING YOUNG PEOPLE AND STRENGTHENING RESILIENCE TO VIOLENT EXTREMISM 12 IIIE. OPERATIONS .................................................................................................................................... 13 IV. CONSTRAINTS AND CHALLENGES ..................................................................................................... 13 V. COORDINATION/PARTNERSHIP ....................................................................................................... 13 VI. NEXT QUARTER PLANS (FOR MORE DETAILS, SEE ANNEXES I AND II) ................................................ 14 List of Annexes: 1. Work plan narrative 2. Work plan chart (attached as a separate document) 3. Mapping of Early Warning monitors and tools in target communities 4. PDSEC status in PS&R communes 5. Classification of Communes 6. Maps of incidents per region ACRONYMS ACORD Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development AMELP Activity Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Plan AMSS Association Malienne pour la Survie au Sahel CAF Conflict Assessment Framework CBO Community-based organization CC Community Coordinator CEC Community Engagement Committee COP Chief of Party CPDHA Centre For the Promotion of Human Rights in Africa CSO Civil Society Organization CVE Countering Violent Extremism DCOP Deputy Chief of Party DDR Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States EU European Union EWRS Early Warning and Response System FDS Defense and Security Forces FRAMe Fragility-Resilience Assessment Methodology GOM Government of Mali M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MINUSMA United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali NGO Non-Governmental Organization OCHA United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs P2P People-to-People PDSEC Plan de Développement Social, Economique, et Culturel PS&R Mali Peacebuilding, Stabilization, and Reconciliation Project RPM Regional Program Manager SLI Sequencing, Layering, and Integrating SNGP Sub-National Governance Project UN United Nations UNDP United Nations Development Program USAID US Agency for International Development ULSHB Universite des Lettres et Sciences Humaines de Bamako VEO Violent Extremist Organization I. PROJECT OVERVIEW The signing of Mali’s 2015 Peace Agreement presents a historic window of opportunity to bring stability to the long-marginalized northern and central regions of the country, and set them on a pathway toward greater social, political, and economic inclusion. For 50 years, these regions’ complex conflict drivers have been compounded by the weakness - and, often, the absence - of civil administration institutions. This vacuum has resulted in the failure to provide security and public order, deliver basic services, and create the conditions for economic prosperity. It has enabled the rise of powerful armed groups and violent extremist organizations (VEOs), many of which thrive by controlling lucrative illicit value chains, including narcotics and arms trafficking. Although the Government of Mali (GOM) is now incrementally re-introducing its administrative presence in many of these regions, the persistent lack of security in many northern and central communities continues to inhibit - and, in many cases, prevent - the full implementation of the 2015 Peace Accord, as well as impede the two regional development plans: the Projet de Stratégie Spécifique de Développement Intégré du Nord du Mali and the Plan de Sécurisation Intégré pour les Région du Centre (PSIRC). USAID’s Mali Peacebuilding, Stabilization and Reconciliation (PS&R) project, is a five-year $20 million contract with a potential $5 million crisis modifier implemented by Creative Associates International, Inc. with local partners Association Malienne pour la Survie au Sahel (AMSS), facilitating implementation in northern Mali, Think Peace, facilitating implementation in central Mali. The purpose of this activity is to improve prospects for long-term peace, security, and reconciliation by building trust between conflict- affected communities and their government, strengthening the ability of communities to mitigate and manage conflict, prioritize and implement their community’s most pressing development needs, and empowering marginalized youth as change agents. The activities will be implemented in 46 conflict-affected communes and communities in the northern and central regions of Mali: Segou, Mopti, Tombouctou, Gao, Kidal Menaka and Taoudeni with linkages to regional and national policies for peace, reconciliation and development. The goal is to see measurable improvement in the efficiency, effectiveness and capacities of the local communities to be more resilient to conflict and violent extremism. Fostering stability in target regions is not only a desired end unto itself, but a necessary pre-condition for the full and complete implementation of the peace deal and the regional development plans- which, in turn, will create the conditions for more lasting, durable peace. PS&R activities are integrated by three objectives which support this broader project goal: Objective 1: Through inclusive P2P dialogue activities and the targeted application of technical training and support, project communes and cercles will develop and pilot organic, community-led conflict early warning, conflict prevention, and violence- reduction mechanisms. Objective 2: Through an inclusive, community-led process, project communities will augment PDSECs to codify peacebuilding and conflict-management mechanisms (including those piloted through Objective 1), and peace-consolidation activities will be formalized and implemented. Objective 3: Through targeted youth engagement activities and the creation of alternative livelihoods opportunities, the attraction and influence of VEOs will be reduced in project communities. II. Executive Summary During this past quarter, the USAID/Mali Peacebuilding, Reconciliation and Stabilization project (PS&R) concluded the initial community engagement sub-activities aimed at mobilizing and gaining support of targeted communities without exacerbating volatile situations following the 2012 conflict. Specifically, PS&R delivered on the following key activities as planned: Analysis of community engagement dynamics: PS&R completed the community engagement activities in the 441 target communes in Timbuktu, Gao, Mopti, Ségou, Ménaka, Taoudénit and Kidal. Activities included continued initial contacts with local authorities, identification of key actors/influencers, the mapping of CSOs/OCB, the administration of six key questions (two per objective) intended to frame initial conversations, and initial analysis of community dynamics and information triangulation aimed at selecting members of the Community Engagement Committees (CECs). using the information drawn from the identification key players and influencers. Furthermore, PSR conducted its first Orientation Workshop and Training in Civic Education in Markala. Field staff administered questions in the 44 communes, mapped out youth opportunities, and identified initial dynamics related to conflicts and governance that will feed more detailed research in the next quarter. These findings will be triangulated/expanded through ICAF/FRAME data collection and analysis Orientation of strategic actors on the project and selection of priority villages/ fractions/ quartiers: PS&R conducted a pilot orientation workshop coupled with civic engagement training and an overview of key national policies and strategies in the commune of Markala for 53 people including 29 chefs de villages. Selection of key actors and influencers for the project, orientation and action plan PS&R identified key actors and influencers, who will act as the window to PS&R in each commune and help mobilize the communities and the leaders on various issues of interest in the commune. A summary of the community engagement process can be found below: Community engagement update by region