Located in the tri-border area between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, the Liptako-Gourma region is at the crossroads of illegal activities, population displacement, inter-community conflicts, and violence carried out by violent extremist groups. Tensions are aggravated by the lack of basic government services and the proliferation of national and foreign military contingents in the area.
In this context, our teams in Mali and Niger seek to strengthen peaceful collaboration between communities, local authorities, and security forces in Liptako-Gourma. With funding from the French Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires Etrangères, the project “Terrains d’Entente” (Common Ground) allows the creation of inclusive spaces for dialogue between border communities, local government, and security actors.
The project targets community leaders committed to peace, as well as women and youth, guiding them to becoming Peace Ambassadors. Together, they develop inclusive socio-economic initiatives and cultural activities aimed at meeting the immediate needs and expectations of the population.
In addition, we offer participatory theater plays and mobile cinema sessions to provide essential, conflict-sensitive information about peace and security issues to the communities in the target areas. These tools facilitate inclusive public discussions that encourage understanding and collaboration across dividing lines. We also produces a regional radio show, “Génération Sahel”, and radio PSAs to share local perspectives about peace and security and to promote peaceful coexistence across the Malian and Nigerien borders.
