Support for risk management linked to environmental degradation through adaptation measures in areas at risk of inter-community conflict

Main purpose
Biodiversity conservation / restoration,
Land restoration for increased soil fertility / reversal of land degradation,
Water harvesting / storage / irrigation,
Pollution control / remediation (air, soil, water),
Reduced environmental degradation from sustainable resource use,
Climate adaptation / resilience,
Increasing agricultural productivity / crop and cattle protection,
Food security,
Improved market / trade / prices of natural resources,
Increasing community cohesion / community building,
Gender equality,
Transparency and accountability of decision-makers,
Entry point for dialogue and mediation between conflicting groups,
Effective conflict mediation and resolution mechanism,
Trust building between conflicting groups

Other expected benefits
No other benefits were selected.

Conflict context
The Kayes and Mopti regions, where this project is being implemented, are both located in geographical areas where the environment is very fragile (Sahelian zones with irregular inter-annual rainfall). Rainfall in both regions is low and poorly distributed in space and time. The two regions, like the rest of the country, are also facing the very marked effects of climate change, as well as strong demographic growth (4.2 and 3.3% per year). In addition to the environmental problems exacerbated by climate change and human pressures on the environment (over-exploitation of natural resources), over the last decade both regions have also been subject to devastating inter-ethnic conflicts under the cover of an Islamist upsurge of rare violence, particularly in the Mopti region. In the Kayes region, the two communes concerned by this project are Sandaré and Simby. These two communes are located in the cercle of Nioro du Sahel, which has a total of 16 communes.

Peace and security contributions
The project has directly affected some 900 people, including approx. 700 women in the beneficiary communities. The training provided to elected representatives and local authority officials will also be beneficial in the long term, enabling them to carry out their work more effectively and better serve their communities. In addition, women and young people have been systematically involved in consultation frameworks and training sessions on conflict management, choice and implementation of community investments, contributing to their involvement in the community.

Reported elements of good practice

Reliance of local grassroots and NGOs; partnership and ownership of local counterparts (communal authorities; technical services from related national ministries); target beneficiaries were already organized in cooperatives and productive associations; close up monitoring of beneficiaries through local NGOs; combination of support for economic resilience (green income generating activities, cash for work) and technical and financial tools for climate adaptation (technical trainings, equipment, performance-based climate resilience grants, financial subvention schemes for green income generating activities)

Reported challenges

The project was designed to last 18 months. It was marked by periods of stoppage due to exogenous socio-political and health factors (various strikes by workers, the civil administration, Covid19/confinements, security concerns that affected the movements of beneficiaries etc.) which strongly influenced the progress of activity. The limited capacity of communal authorities to manage effectively the performance-based climate resilience grants.