Mali

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The threat of terrorism and violent extremism have worsened in recent decades, become increasingly pronounced in the Central Sahel region of Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

Key drivers of violent extremism include high levels of youth unemployment, recurring farmer-herder conflicts, and persistent governance-related grievances. Terrorist and violent extremist groups exploit these vulnerabilities by promoting narratives of injustice and offering protection in exchange for loyalty, thereby further destabilising already fragile communities. GCERF began investing in the country in 2017 and till date USD 10.1 million has been invested to address these drivers of violent extremism.

OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY IN MALI

GCERF’s investment strategy outlines a comprehensive approach to address the drivers of violent extremism and guides civil society organisations in designing their programmes.

GCERF funds programmes that:

Strengthen pastoral resilience through targeted infrastructure investments, aiming to ease land-related grievances and limit exploitation by violent extremist groups

Promote socio-economic integration through livelihood opportunities to reduce susceptibility to radicalisation and recruitment by violent extremist groups

Support the reintegration of ex-detainees and ex-combatants through community-based initiatives that promote tolerance and reduce the risk of recidivism

KEY FIGURES

(cumulative from 2017 to March 2025)

Grants

Civil society organisations

Total amount invested (in USD)

0 M

Community members engaged through interfaith, intercommunity, intergenerational dialogues to foster solidarity and reject false narratives often used by violent extremist groups

Community members reached by prevention campaigns to reduce the risk of recruitment by violent extremist groups

Individuals at-risk of radicalisation received livelihood, economic or material support to strengthen their economic resilience