Bolstering Rural Economies and Knowledge of Workable Actions to Enable Reconciliation in Central and Southern Mali (BREAKWATER)

In full alignment with Sida’s strategy for Mali focused on human security and strengthened peace and reconciliation mechanisms, as well as strengthened democracy, gender equality and greater resilience to environmental and climatic drivers of instability, BREAKWATER aims to prevent the further spread of violent conflict in Central and Southern Mali. It will do this by addressing contemporary and historical root causes of conflict in communities situated on the frontier between the relatively stable South and the most volatile parts of the Centre. It will also ensure that conflicts which rise to the surface are peacefully mitigated through local systems wherever possible. The programme will work to overcome natural resource management challenges, the breakdown of inter-ethnic relations and traditional mechanisms for conflict resolution, economic drivers of conflict, and a broken social contract between citizens and the state. The programme’s goal is focused on increasing human security among the population in these zones. The concept of improving human security relates to the identification and successful resolution of widespread and crosscutting challenges to the survival, livelihood and dignity of people. BREAKWATER will be implemented by Mercy Corps, International Alert and Humanity & Inclusion, and would run for four years, reaching 60,912 beneficiaries/participants across 130 communities in specific Cercles (indicatively identified on the map above but to be further refined during the program inception phase) within Koulikoro, Mopti and Segou Regions where the risk of the spread of violent conflict is greatest and where potential to build on positive local capacities provides opportunity for demonstrable impact.