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

Field	Detail
Title of the Mission	IDENTIFICATION OF YOUTH CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS IN BURKINA FASO, MALI, NIGER AND SENEGAL AND MECHANISMS ENABLING THEM TO BECOME ACTORS FOR PEACE AND THE RULE OF LAW
Countries of Intervention	Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Senegal (Senegal is included in the objective but often listed separately as an area for consultation rather than a primary ‘intervention’ country for some projects in this context)
Client/Partner	UNESCO regional office in Dakar
Period of Execution	July – August 2021

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.