Meet Abdoulaye: Supporting Community Resilience and Peacebuilding in Mali

We are pleased to introduce Abdoulaye, GCERF’s National Adviser in Mali. He is a committed advocate for local development, conflict prevention, and community-led initiatives to prevent violent extremism.

Abdoulaye holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Bamako and a Master’s in Local Development. With over 13 years of professional experience, he has worked with diverse organisations, including INGOs and the British Embassy, supporting peacebuilding initiatives and programmes across Mali, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Mopti, Ségou, and Timbuktu. His experience spans programme coordination, field-level implementation, and the design of prevention and resilience initiatives.

At GCERF, Abdoulaye supports local civil society organisations in reducing conflicts and preventing violent extremism. He coordinates the implementation of national action plans, provides guidance to civil society organisations (CSOs) in the field, and conducts monitoring missions alongside government partners. He has contributed to disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) programmes in northern Mali, facilitated resilience initiatives between herders and farmers, and offered practical advice that helps grantees design and implement impactful interventions. Abdoulaye also promotes local development initiatives, strengthens collaboration between CSOs and government actors, and supports grantees in communicating their peacebuilding work through local channels and high-profile events.

“So don, Yiri don, Yèrè don gnongon teye” (knowing oneself is the best way to be humble), Abdoulaye says, quoting a well-known Bambara proverb. “Born and raised in a village, I love meeting the stalwart men and women who inspire solutions from the ground up. Everyone can contribute differently to building the country.”

Through his work, Abdoulaye ensures that GCERF’s programmes are locally relevant, strategically aligned, and effective, helping communities in Mali build resilience, strengthen social cohesion, and prevent violent extremism.