GCERF Cooperates with Niger to Prevent Violent Extremism in the Sahel Region
GCERF Cooperates with Niger to Prevent Violent Extremism in the Sahel Region
GCERF Cooperates with Niger to Prevent Violent Extremism in the Sahel Region
Niamey, Niger, 15 March 2022 – The Government of Niger and the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) reaffirmed their strong commitment to collaboration in addressing the global challenge of violent extremism.
Due to the increasingly regional nature of the violent extremism
phenomenon, GCERF developed a regional strategy for the Sahel focusing on the Liptako-Gourma area with a total investment of USD 10 million over four years.
In collaboration with the Group of Five Countries for the Sahel (G5 Sahel), GCERF works with national governments of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to implement national action plans and joint regional strategies such as the G5 Sahel Strategy. Investing in community-based organisations enables local solutions. Equipped and empowered local communities hold the key to success in prevention efforts against violent extremism.
The President of the High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace (HACP), the G5 Sahel, and GCERF met today to launch programmes aimed at preventing violent extremism in Niger and announce USD 900,000 in funding for the Tillaberi region. It is part of GCERF’s initially planned investment of USD 1.5 million to support a consortium of local Nigerien organisations.
“Peace and security throughout the Sahel region is continually threatened by violent extremism and present an ongoing challenge for us in Niger. Tensions between groups, conflict over natural resources, economic hardship, and a lack of trust makes people vulnerable to extremist narratives,” stated HACP President, Brigadier General Mahamadou Abou Tarka.
To tackle these drivers of violent extremism, GCERF has a partnership with the G5 Sahel, to bolster local efforts seeking to interrupt the cycle of violence in in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger starting with the Liptako-Gourma region. A strong cooperative response to the rising challenges of violent extremism must be ambitious and support and accompany local partners.
As violent extremist groups continue to threaten communities and livelihoods across the Sahel, resilience is weakened. This is where GCERF, the global fund to prevent violent extremism, comes into play.
“GCERF recognises that local communities possess knowledge and locally driven approaches against these extremism narratives but often lack the funding required to launch such initiatives. Civil society and organisations like the Association of Scouts Niger are critical to help empower and build resilience against extremist narratives,” followed GCERF Governing Board Chair Mr Stefano Manservisi.
Grant funded activities for the Association of Scouts Niger include, working with women and youth to improve understanding of radicalisation, developing economic opportunities via trainings and mentorship, and building dialogue spaces between communities and local authorities.
The Association of Scouts Niger Commissioner General, Mr Aliou Oumarou concluded that, “social and economic services which provide opportunities for people and communities is needed. We look forward to working with new and existing partners to build a future that is meaningful and sustainable.”