Project Case Study
Support to Stabilisation in Central Mali
Supporting the Government of Mali in addressing local community grievances and enhancing stability in Central Mali.
Since 2016, Central Mali has faced increasing conflicts and terrorist activities, prompting the Malian government and the international community to intervene. In late 2017, the government launched the PSIRC (Integrated Stabilisation Plan for Central Mali) to improve security, socioeconomic development, governance, and communication. However, most efforts have focused on security, neglecting crucial areas like governance and public services. This project aims to redirect attention to these non-security challenges, encouraging the government to tackle the underlying issues affecting stability in Central Mali.
The SSCM project aimed to help the Malian government take greater responsibility for addressing local grievances and improving stability in Central Mali. It focused on three key areas: supporting land dispute resolution through village land commissions under the 2017 Land Law (implemented by the Land Governance Project, or LGP); improving community awareness of government efforts through the Kelenya project, which shifted to focus on community engagement after a 2020 coup disrupted government cooperation; and strengthening non-security stabilisation efforts, though this was abandoned due to the coup. The Covid-19 pandemic caused significant delays, with most activities resuming remotely by mid-2020. Later, the project supported UK military efforts in Gao (Sector East) by conducting research and piloting stabilisation projects, such as “Community Resilience” and “Strategic Dialogue,” in partnership with local organisations. Despite challenges, SSCM adapted its approach to deliver results in both Segou and Sector East.
- Village Land Commissions: Established functional commissions in all 132 target villages, mediating 94% of land dispute cases (87 out of 92) since December 2020, with 1,172 villagers accessing their services. Inclusivity was enhanced by adding male and female community liaisons to flag conflicts early.
- Community Fund Pilot: Supported 60 community-led activities addressing land conflict drivers, reaching 10,016 participants and informing future programmes like the JASS initiative.
- Kelenya Dialogue: Strengthened civil society’s role through platforms like ‘Femmes Leaders’ and ‘Jeune Leaders,’ enabling continued engagement with officials and fostering dialogue around stability and security in Segou.
- Sector East Research and Programming: Conducted research and developed evidence-based programming in Gao (Sector East), informing the Gao Stabilisation Fund and producing accessible conflict analysis reports valued by HMG.
