KPAC21: 'Redefining ‘Success’ of PVE Programming in the Sahel' with Mercy Corps

The session started by covering the causes of violent extremism in the Sahel and the strategies employed by the international community responding to them. The next part of the session discussed the effectiveness of these strategies in the Sahel, their ability to meet local needs and the prioritization of these strategies. Further, Maimou Wali discussed the activities and approaches mostly needed according to the affected local organisations and communities. At the end of the session, Emilie Tankora explained how an international NGO, such as Mercy Corps, navigates the approaches of international donors and the desire to put power in the hands of local communities.

The most relevant central inequalities or subjects mentioned during the discussion that exacerbate the situation in the Sahel are lack of/unfinished education, youth unemployment, interconnecting factors too such as youth not being able to finish their studies/education, which leads to more unemployment. Other relevant pointed out during this session was the fact that there are too many interventions that offers mixed results, but also some approaches such as PVE, are not completely effective because local actors are not involved enough in interventions to ensure sustainable peace.

This session included panelists Emilie Tankora (Mercy Corps Niger), Dr Bréma Ely Dicko is (Sociologist, Professor and Researcher at the Université des Lettres et Sciences Humaines of Bamako, Mali), Maimou Wali (Director of Cercle de Réflexion et d'Action pour un Développement Innovant in Niger), Anna Schmauder (Sahel Researcher at Clingendael Institute of International Relations), and Sarah Casteran (Policy and Advocacy Advisor with Mercy Corps Netherlands).