Category: Projects

• Zone d’intervention: Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso
• Client: UNESCO
• Période de la mission: Janvier-Février 2022
• Titre du projet: Renforcer la résilience des jeunes face à l’extrémisme violent et leur engagement pour la construction de la paix à travers l’éducation

L’objectif principal de cette mission est de disposer d’une ébauche de modules de formation sur la base du rapport issu de l’évaluation des besoins des jeunes qui a été conduite dans les 3 pays. Les modules de formation seront utilisés par des formateurs/facilitateurs pour le renforcement des capacités des jeunes (filles et garçons) en matière de résilience, de construction de la paix et de l’état de droit et des compétences leur permettant d’être des agents de la paix.

Capacity Building Needs Assessment and Engagement Mechanisms for Youth as Actors for Peace and the Rule of Law in the Sahel RegionI. 

Mission Context and Core Information

1. Comprehensive Mission Objective and Scope

The overarching objective of this critical assessment mission was to engage with a diverse range of relevant stakeholders across the four targeted countries—Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Senegal—with a particular and central focus on the youth population itself.

The mission was specifically tasked with two primary, interconnected deliverables:

1. Identification of Capacity Building Needs: To determine, through rigorous consultation, the specific knowledge, skills, technical, and institutional capacities that young people in these nations require to effectively participate in and contribute to peacebuilding efforts and the promotion of the Rule of Law within their respective communities.
2. Establishment of Enabling Mechanisms: To propose concrete, implementable mechanisms, frameworks, and support structures necessary to facilitate the sustained engagement and empowerment of these youth as proactive and legitimate actors for peace and the Rule of Law.

2. Foundational Methodological Approach

Crucially, the entire consultation and identification process was mandated to employ a gender-responsive approach. This means the mission sought to:

• Acknowledge and analyze the different and specific needs, barriers, and opportunities facing young women and young men.
• Ensure that the proposed capacity building and engagement mechanisms are equitable, addressing gender-based inequalities, and actively promoting the full and meaningful participation of young women in all peace and governance processes.

3. Strategic Rationale and Expected Impact

The mission was conceived out of the recognition that young people in the Sahel region, while often disproportionately affected by conflict, political instability, and weak governance, are also the region’s largest demographic asset and most vital resource for long-term stabilization. By identifying and addressing their specific capacity gaps and establishing clear pathways for civic engagement, the project aimed to:

• Mitigate Conflict Drivers: Equip youth with the tools to resolve disputes non-violently, counter radicalization and violent extremism, and promote social cohesion.
• Strengthen Democratic Governance: Enhance youth literacy and participation in legal frameworks, justice systems, and democratic processes, thereby bolstering the Rule of Law.
• Inform Future Programming: Provide UNESCO and its partners with the evidence base and strategic direction needed to design and implement targeted, effective, and contextually appropriate youth empowerment programs in the Sahel.

The two-month period was dedicated to intensive fieldwork, stakeholder interviews (including government officials, civil society organizations, community leaders, and particularly youth networks), focus group discussions, and data synthesis to deliver a comprehensive report detailing the findings and recommendations.

• Tire de la mission: IDENTIFICATION DES BESOINS EN RENFORCEMENT DES CAPACITES DES JEUNES AU BURKINA FASO, AU MALI, AU NIGER ET AU SENEGAL ET DES MECANISMES LEUR PERMETTANT DE DEVENIR DES ACTEURS POUR LA PAIX ET L’ETAT DE DROIT
• Pays d’intervention: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger
• Client: UNESCO
• Période: Juillet-Août 2021

Objectif de la mission

Consulter les parties prenantes concernées au Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger et Sénégal dont les jeunes, pour identifier les besoins en renforcement des capacités de ces derniers ainsi que les mécanismes nécessaires pour qu’ils puissent s’engager en tant qu’acteurs pour la paix et l’état de droit dans leur communauté, selon une approche réactive en matière de genre.

Pour plus d’information, contactez-nous: [email protected]

• Project: Youth Empowerment through TVET in The Gambia
• Country: The Gambia
• Client: UNESCO
• Period: January-March 2022

The evaluation team will aim to achieve the following objectives:
i) Assess the appropriateness of the project strategy and design in relation to outcomes and progress made;
ii) Assess the strategic positioning of the project within the UN system and the broader landscape of TVET-related actors and programmes, taking into account relevant enabling policy frameworks to which the work of the project responds;
iii) Assess how the project aligns with The Gambia’s needs, as well as SDG targets, relevant international policies and norms, and UNESCO strategic objectives and Global Priorities;
iv) Assess contributions towards gender transformative change;

v) Assess managerial arrangements and work planning; finance and co-finance, risks to sustainability (financial, socio-economic, institutional framework and governance, environmental, etc.);
vi) Evaluate the current exit strategy and likelihood of sustainability of activities and preliminary project gains; and
vii) List obstacles the project confronted, and lessons learned moving forward.

• Project title: Support the capacity of the Government and national stakeholders to establish credible transitional justice processes and mechanisms that promote reconciliation and sustainable peace in The Gambia.
• Country: The Gambia
• Client: UNDP
• Period: June-July 2021

The evaluation had five key objectives:

1. To assess the contribution of the project activities to the realization of project objectives and outcomes by determining how relevant, efficient, effective, and sustainable the project is.
2. To identify and provide analysis of the factors that have either positively or negatively affected/impacted the project beneficiaries.
3. To recognize any possible catalytic effects of the project.
4. To assess the project’s contribution towards national strategies on transitional justice and human rights, as well as peacebuilding, including its contribution towards strengthening Government-led coordination and planning in this sector.
5. To provide recommendations for improving UN support to transitional justice and human rights in The Gambia, including the country’s sustainable peace agenda on transitional justice and human rights.

Client: Orezone

Country: Burkina Faso

Intervention Period: April-May 2022

The Orezone Bomboré Project necessitated a robust review of its Environmental and Social (E&S) requirements. As the resource personnel, supported by the ALG expertise, a focused and systematic technical approach was implemented to ensure comprehensive E&S compliance and mitigate potential risks.

Our methodology, conducted during April-May 2022, was structured around five key technical objectives:

1. Comprehensive Section Review and E&S Issue Identification:

The initial phase involved a detailed technical review of all project sections. The aim was to systematically identify and document all existing and potential environmental and social issues pertinent to the Bomboré Project’s scope and location in Burkina Faso. This involved cross-referencing project plans with established E&S standards.

2. Technical Assessment of Issues, Risks, and Impacts:

Following identification, a technical assessment was performed to evaluate the significance of the issues, risks, and potential E&S impacts directly associated with the planned operational activities. This phase utilized established risk assessment matrices and impact evaluation methodologies to categorize and prioritize potential harm to the environment and local communities.

3. Informing E&S Selection Documentation:

A critical step involved translating the findings into practical documentation. We were responsible for accurately populating the required technical sheets and forms used for the environmental and social selection (screening) of sub-projects. This ensured that all subsequent project components would be evaluated based on the identified E&S risks.

4. Technical Engagement with Local Authorities:

Effective E&S management requires local coordination. We engaged in direct technical consultation and exchange with the technical departments within the town halls of the sites hosting the project sections. This dialogue was crucial for aligning project activities with local environmental regulations and social concerns, ensuring stakeholder buy-in, and gathering site-specific technical data.

5. Validation, Classification, and Work Determination:

The final phase involved the validation of the screening results. This led to the formal E&S classification of the project components. Based on this classification, the necessary environmental and social work—the technical mitigation and enhancement measures—was determined. The ultimate goal of this entire approach was the preservation of the tranquility and well-being of the neighboring and adjoining populations throughout the project lifecycle.

This systematic and technically driven approach was instrumental in providing Orezone with a clear, compliant, and responsible pathway forward for the Bomboré Project.

• Client: OREZONE
• Pays: Burkina Faso
• Période de l’intervention: Avril-Mai 2022

L’objectif de cette activité est de (i) parcourir l’ensemble des tronçons et observer les enjeux environnementaux et sociaux en présence, (ii) apprécier les enjeux, risques et impacts environnementaux et sociaux potentiels liés aux opérations envisagées, (iii) renseigner les fiches et formulaires de sélection environnementale et sociale des sous-projets, (iv) prendre contact et échanger avec les directions techniques des mairies des lieux d’accueil des tronçons et (v) valider les résultats du screening, faire la classification et déterminer le travail environnemental et social nécessaire toujours dans le souci de préserver la quiétude des populations riveraines/mitoyennes.

• Client: Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI)
• Country: Ghana
• Period: August-September 2021

The overall objective of this consultancy is to prepare products that document the extent to which the subject project’s outcomes and impact have been achieved: What is the impact of the project on rural development and improvement of the irrigation system for vegetable production in the target community?

Africa Label Group (ALG) successfully completed a comprehensive community conflicts assessment in the Sahel region for the International Republican Institute (IRI). This critical assignment provides essential groundwork for developing a robust, regionally coordinated strategy to prevent and counter violent extremism (P/CVE) in West Africa.

Project Overview

The Urgent Need for Regional P/CVE

The Central Sahel, encompassing countries like Burkina Faso, has seen an alarming expansion of violent extremist organizations (VEOs). This growing threat is increasingly spilling over, putting intense pressure on northern border communities in the adjacent coastal states—Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo, often referred to as the Littoral States.

Recognizing that VEOs exploit local vulnerabilities, including community conflicts and resource disputes, a successful P/CVE strategy must be tailored to specific, localized contexts. The IRI, therefore, commissioned this assessment to rigorously evaluate existing community-led P/CVE interventions and capture the best practices, successful models, and crucial lessons learned from these efforts.ALG’s Role and Methodology

ALG’s team of four key experts and ten research assistants executed the assessment across the five target countries. The primary objective was to conduct a thorough analysis of the drivers, dynamics, and impact of community-level conflicts in vulnerable border regions.

Our methodology focused on:

• Mapping Conflict Dynamics: Identifying the root causes, triggers, and key actors involved in local conflicts (e.g., farmer-herder tensions, resource competition, chieftaincy disputes).
• Evaluating P/CVE Interventions: Assessing the effectiveness and sustainability of past and ongoing community-led initiatives designed to mitigate conflict and build resilience against extremist narratives.
• Identifying Best Practices: Extracting proven strategies and transferable lessons that have successfully fostered social cohesion and reduced vulnerability to recruitment by VEOs.

Strategic Impact

The findings from ALG’s assessment are intended to serve as the analytical foundation for IRI’s efforts to integrate these best practices and lessons learned into a cohesive regional P/CVE strategy.

This strategy will be a coordinated effort involving the governments of Burkina Faso, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin. Crucially, the initiative will leverage existing regional security frameworks and institutions, including coordination with:

• The Accra Initiative (AI): A collaborative security mechanism established by the Littoral States and Burkina Faso to prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Sahel.
• The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): The primary political and economic union in the region, whose mandate includes promoting peace and security.

The project has laid essential groundwork for a safer and more stable West Africa. This has been achieved by aligning the regional strategy with the efforts of the AI and ECOWAS. This alignment is designed to secure high-level ratification, broad political buy-in, and the creation of a sustainable, multi-national framework. This framework will be used for community-based conflict prevention and countering violent extremism across vulnerable border regions. ALG is proud to have made this contribution.

• Client: International Republican Institute (IRI)
• Countries of the assessment: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo
• Period: September-November 2021
• Number of experts assigned: 4 key experts and 10 research assistants

As violent extremist organizations expand their zones of influence in the central Sahel and increasingly threaten northern border communities in the Littoral States, IRI seeks to integrate the best practices and lessons learned from rigorously evaluated community-led prevention and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) interventions in target border communities into a regional P/CVE strategy ratified by Burkina Faso, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, and Benin through coordination with the Accra Initiative and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).