MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 0
LAFIA (PEOPLE AT PEACE)
ENDLINE REPORT
Project Information
Grantee: Mercy Corps
Project Title: People at Peace (Lafia)
Grant Number: 720-688-20-CA-00001
Country: Mali
Funding Amount: $ 1,684,851.00
Grant Dates: 10/16/2019 – 09/30/2021
Date Progress Report is submitted: December 1, 2021
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 1
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY........................................................................................................................................... 2
Principal Results ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 4
1.1 Project Background........................................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Duration .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
1.3 Zones of Intervention ........................................................................................................................................ 4
1.4 Target Group and Impact Group ..................................................................................................................... 4
1.5 Program Objectives and Outcomes................................................................................................................ 4
1.6 Scope of the Evaluation.................................................................................................................................... 5
1.7 Use and Users of Evaluation Results............................................................................................................. 5
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION............................................................................................................. 5
III. DIMENSIONS OF THE ANALYSIS AND KEY QUESTIONS..................................................................... 6
IV. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH .............................................................................................................. 6
4.1 Sampling and Selection of Participants.......................................................................................................... 6
4.2 Data Collection Tools........................................................................................................................................ 7
4.3 Data Collection................................................................................................................................................... 8
4.4 Limitations of the Study .................................................................................................................................... 8
V. RESULTS RELATED TO THE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT .................... 9
VI. RESULTS RELATED TO THE SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS................................................................15
VII. GENDER MAINSTREAMING ......................................................................................................................15
VIII. EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT.....................................................................................................................16
8.1 Results of the Group Interviews .................................................................................................................... 16
8.2 Results of individual surveys on the level of project performance ........................................................... 17
IX. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS................................................................................................18
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 24-month Lafia program was designed to help urban and rural communities in southern Mali 
increase their resilience to conflict and violent extremism. 
In order to measure the degree to which the project's objectives were achieved and compared to the 
expected results, a final evaluation was conducted to determine the change brought about by the 
project and the effectiveness of the approaches used by the program in the context, as well as to 
provide Mercy Corps and other stakeholders with necessary information related to the effective 
implementation of similar programs in the future.
This evaluation provided the level of performance of key project indicators, as well as levels of 
violence in communities, community perceptions of trust and satisfaction with local authorities, and 
prospects for social cohesion. The survey was conducted in the Kayes region and the District of 
Bamako, areas that are vulnerable to violence and conflict.
Overall, the results of the study show the effectiveness of the program in terms of the level of progress 
of key performance indicators related to the security situation, prospects for social cohesion, 
vulnerability factors and resilience to conflict and violent extremism. 
Principal Results
- The level of safety and violence in the communities
Overall, communities feel that insecurity and violence have decreased considerably in both Bamako 
and Kayes. Indeed, at the time of the baseline study, 38% of those interviewed felt that their 
communities were peaceful, safe and secure, and by the end of the project the rate had increased to 
51%. This increase is related to the training/capacity building activities on appropriate techniques for 
prevention and resolution of inter-community disputes conducted by Mercy Corps project actors and 
implementing partner Think Peace. According to the results of our focus groups during the Outcome 
Harvesting, the community members manage to deal with the various conflicts/tensions that arise 
within the community through dialogue. In addition, awareness campaigns/caravans on peaceful 
cohabitation are conducted in the various intervention zones.
- Youth participation in the productive life of the community
Given the trends that have emerged, this indicator aimed at assessing the contribution of young men 
and women to the construction of a safe and/or productive community, which was 37% at the 
beginning, is 52% at the end of the program, i.e., an increase of 15%.
This result is due to the real willingness of young people to get involved and participate actively in the 
management of community affairs (construction or rehabilitation of local mosques, cleaning of gutters, 
etc.), thus enabling them to assert themselves within the community. Both individual and collective 
changes following the different sessions are really appreciated by the community.
- Social cohesion in the community
More than two thirds (70%) of the respondents have a positive perception of their community in terms 
of mutual aid and collaboration for the benefit of the community. Following the intervention of the Lafia
program in the intervention zones, 64% of respondents in the Kayes region and 76% in the Bamako 
district think that the overall climate of cohesion both among community members and with 
neighboring communities is better. This is an overall improvement of 6% compared to the initial 
situation of 64% at baseline. Overall, opinions are broadly shared by age and gender, providing 
interesting insights into community dynamics and opportunities to promote intercultural and ethnic 
activities in their respective communities.
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- Conflict management, capacity, and willingness of communities to identify the 
causes of conflict
70% of the interviewees feel confident in the ability of community leaders to better prevent and 
peacefully resolve inter-community disputes. This is an improvement of 10% compared to the initial 
situation of 60%.
- Peace agreement and trust in government
Based on individual interviews, particularly with resource persons or key informants (including 
customary authorities, religious leaders, political and community leaders), 59% of respondents in the 
Kayes region believe that national policies to promote peace will benefit their ethnic and geographic 
communities. This represents an increase of 12% compared to the baseline of 47%.
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I. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Project Background
The Lafia program, which means People at Peace in Bambara, was implemented by Mercy Corps in 
Mali in the Kayes region and Bamako district, aiming to increase the resilience of urban and rural 
communities in southern Mali to conflict and violent extremism. While instability has plagued northern 
and central Mali since 2012, the south of the country has remained relatively stable. However, a Mercy 
Corps assessment in Bamako and three circles of Kayes showed that many fractures now threaten 
this fragile peace. In both urban and rural areas, young men and women were frustrated by perceived 
injustices, lack of economic opportunities, and the absence of functional government services. In rural 
areas, competition for land and water between Fulani pastoralists and Bambara and Soninke farmers 
could trigger further violence if left unmanaged. At the political level, resentment against the perceived 
lack of southern engagement in national peace processes, coupled with the flow of resources to the 
north, was seen as an additional risk to southern stability.
1.2 Duration
Two years, October 2019 to September 2021.
1.3 Zones of Intervention
The project intervened in the district of Bamako and the region of Kayes, specifically in twelve (12) 
communes, of which ten (10) were in Kayes and two (2) were in Bamako.
1.4 Target Group and Impact Group
The mission of this project was to prevent and mitigate violence in the intervention circles through 
several activities, namely Sport for Change (S4C), Early Warning System (EWS), training and 
implementation of joint and/or community projects.
The project focused on targeting and making an impact on the following populations in the Kayes 
region and the Bamako district:
- Young people at risk of radicalization,
- State leaders and services
- Community leaders
- Women's associations
1.5 Program Objectives and Outcomes 
The Lafia program had three interrelated objectives:
➢ Objective 1: Reduced vulnerability of youth to involvement in resource-based conflict, political 
conflict, and violent extremism.
➢ Objective 2: Traditional, religious, women and government leaders peacefully resolve inter￾group conflicts and reduce conflict drivers.
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 5
➢ Objective 3: Local communities actively engage with government authorities and relevant civil 
society actors in the implementation of national policies to prevent violent extremism and 
promote reconciliation.
1.6 Scope of the Evaluation
In order to measure the level of achievement of the project's objectives and compare them to the 
expected results, a final evaluation was conducted by the Monitoring and Evaluation team to 
determine the change brought about by the project and the effectiveness of the approaches used in 
the context, as well as to provide Mercy Corps and other stakeholders with the necessary information 
for the effective and efficient implementation of similar projects in the future. This report also explains 
the key guidelines that guided the conduct of the final evaluation of the Lafia program activities. These 
guidelines will address both general and technical aspects of Mercy Corps.
1.7 Use and Users of Evaluation Results
For whom is the evaluation for? How will the information be used?
Mercy Corps
To determine the change achieved through the intervention, 
document the lessons learned from the program in terms of the 
impact of its intervention on the lives of participants and in the 
community, on the reduction of violence and the prevention of 
violence through the different systems put in place.
USAID
The information provided will help the donor not only to assess the 
level of achievement of the expected results of this project, but also 
in its decision making in funding future peace-related projects in 
Mali and likely beyond.
Government of Mali
The information can be used by local authorities to assess the 
quality of interventions for communities in conflict and/or used as a 
resource by other structures/organizations.
Municipalities
The results will serve as a reference for the communes in 
maintaining peace through social activities.
With respect to the Mercy Corps project management approach, a baseline study was conducted at 
the start of the project. The indicators defined are elements of judgment in assessing the results of 
the Lafia program. The level of the indicators will help illustrate the changes caused by the project 
between the beginning and the end of the implementation.
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE EVALUATION
This final evaluation is intended to assess the implementation of the Lafia program at the end of its 
life cycle by identifying its strengths and weaknesses, through an analysis of its effectiveness and 
initial effects in order to assess whether the program has produced the expected effects/results by 
optimizing the resources allocated. The data from this study will serve as a guide/benchmark for future 
similar programs. The evaluation was conducted using a comparable methodology (quantitative and 
qualitative data collection) to that of the baseline studies so that results could be reliably measured.
Specifically, the objectives of this evaluation were to: 
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 6
- Measure the level of achievement of objectives and compare them to target values;
- Verify whether the effects felt by beneficiaries/participants are a result of the project;
- Report on the project "impacts" and outcome indicators by examining the extent to which
participants have adopted the new behaviors envisioned in the theory of change; 
- Identify and understand the positive and success factors, as well as the weaknesses and 
dysfunctions, in order to draw lessons and learn from them for future programming.
III. DIMENSIONS OF THE ANALYSIS AND KEY QUESTIONS
The analysis focused on the following evaluation dimensions and related key questions: 
o Efficiency
− Did the intervention achieve its stated (or implied) objectives, based on its actual 
achievements and results?
− What were the main factors that contributed to the achievement or non-achievement of 
objectives?
− How did the intervention address or reduce the conflict factors and key tensions identified at 
the beginning/during the project? Was a change in behavior/perception identified? If so, why?
− Did the project contribute to increasing the capacity of communities to respond to 
crisis/conflict? If yes, why ? If not, what were the shortcomings ?
o Sustainability
− Has the project invested sufficient resources to ensure continuity of activities after project 
closure?
− What steps have been taken or planned to create sustainable processes/institutions/norms for 
peace?
− To what extent has the participation of youth, men and women been achieved?
− Is there a solid exit plan or handover strategy for local actors to build or continue their own 
peacebuilding initiatives?
o Gender Mainstreaming
− Did the intervention produce different outcomes for women and men, and boys and girls?
− To what extent did the project consider and address gender inequalities?
− To what extent did the project take into account gender equality criteria in its daily 
management?
IV. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH
4.1 Sampling and Selection of Participants 
The final evaluation was conducted in the same communes as the baseline evaluation. We used 
stratified sampling proportional to size, with each commune representing a stratum. The sample 
size was calculated by region using the parameters below:
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Sample size estimation parameter:
Parameters
Acceptable margin of error 5%
Confidence level 95%
Proportion variable / distribution of responses 50%
Using these parameters, we obtained the minimum sample size per region:
For the Kayes region: 384 people
For the Bamako region: 385 people
Sample size adjustment for non-response
To this minimum sample size, we added the non-response rate of 10%. Thus, for this survey, we 
considered a sample of 422 people for the Kayes region and 424 people for the Bamako district. For 
this final evaluation, the survey was conducted in the 20 communes that were used for the baseline 
evaluation with individuals or groups that had been interviewed. These communes were obtained 
following the project's identification of communes vulnerable to conflict. 
For the qualitative data collection, in the same locality, the team conducted 4 focus group discussions 
in each locality : 2 with adults (men/women) and 2 others with young boys and girls
For the Bamako region, the same types of actors were interviewed. However, the localities in each 
commune were divided into neighborhood blocks.
4.2 Data Collection Tools
As in the baseline evaluation, two main collection tools were designed and administered to key 
informants for collection:
An individual questionnaire for quantitative data collection:
For data related to the following:
- Sociodemographic information (age, gender, ethnicity, religion, status, etc.);
- Level of violence in the community;
- Youth participation in the productive life of the community;
- Social cohesion in the community;
- Conflict management;
- Peace agreement and trust in the government;
- Capacity and willingness of communities to identify causes of conflict.
An interview guide for focus groups: 
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 8
For focus groups with men, women, and youth (male and female) for qualitative data collection.
4.3 Data Collection
Mercy Corps conducted interviews and discussions in the local language. The collection team 
(interviewers) was trained on data collection tools and other aspects of the research including: 
• The purpose of the study, background information and objectives;
• The different information needs of the study;
• The information/data collection technique 
• Data collection tools;
• Definition of different terminologies;
• Controlling for bias in data collection;
• Ethical considerations.
Specific arrangements were made to ensure that the data collected was of good quality; this involved 
solid training of interviewers, supervision of collection, and restrictions on the questionnaire. Mercy 
Corps teams in Bamako and Kayes also provided supervision.
During the training, time was also spent briefing interviewers on Mercy Corps policies, including the 
child advocacy policy, the anti-harassment policy, the anti-fraud policy, and the code of conduct. 
In addition, given the global pandemic that is COVID-19 and in order to reduce the risk of spreading 
the disease, we ensured strict adherence to the barrier measures recommended by Mercy Corps. 
These included maintaining a social distance of 1 to 2 meters between participants, controlling access 
to the office, requiring hand washing before entering the training room, avoiding handshaking, or 
kissing, making the wearing of masks mandatory, monitoring the temperature of participants, and 
taking appropriate action if any of these rules were not followed.
To ensure that the questionnaire was well understood, Mercy Corps conducted a pre-test of the 
questionnaire with communities not involved in this evaluation. During this simulation, all the 
information collection tools were used to detect any difficulties/problems in order to adjust the 
questionnaire as needed and in time. 
After collection, consistency checks were also conducted to ensure the quality of the data.
4.4 Limitations of the Study
At the end of the project, the people who were interviewed during the baseline assessment could not 
be found for the most part. The reasons were that the questionnaire for the baseline assessment did 
not include the question about the respondent's telephone number, and they were replaced by others 
in the community. In the communes where the project had not intervened, we encountered many 
refusals to answer the questionnaires and many dropouts.
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V. RESULTS RELATED TO THE ANALYSIS OF THE 
EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROJECT
The graphs above present both the level of progress of the performance indicators as well as the 
degree of achievement of the objectives by making a comparative analysis between the starting 
situation and that at the end of the program:
G1: Percentage who feel that their communities are and will continue to be peaceful, safe and secure.
This indicator, designed to assess the level of security, peace and safety in the communities 
concerned, increased by 13%. Indeed, at the beginning 38% of the interviewees had estimated that 
their communities were peaceful, safe, and secure and at the end of the project the rate had increased 
to 51%. This result is not accidental. Indeed, it can be explained by the fact that the Lafia program
has placed community capacity building at the heart of its implementation strategy in order to train, 
sensitize and, above all, equip them with appropriate techniques for preventing and resolving inter￾community disputes. In fact, according to the results of our focus groups during the Outcome 
Harvesting, the community members manage to deal with the various conflicts/tensions that arise 
within the community through dialogue. In addition, awareness campaigns/caravans on peaceful 
cohabitation have been organized in the various intervention zones.
O1.1: Percentage of targeted youth who believe that the use of violence to defend a social or political 
cause is never justified.
38%
45%
51%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Baseline Midline Endline
86%
84%
89%
81%
82%
83%
84%
85%
86%
87%
88%
89%
90%
Baseline Midline Endline
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 10
The results of the analysis of this objective indicator measuring the propensity to violence by 
examining whether young people believe that violence cannot be justified for a social or political cause 
were at the beginning at 86% and at the end of the Lafia program intervention it increased to 89%.
This is explained by the fact that the youth (girls and boys) have, throughout the period of execution 
of the project, fully participated in the different sports sessions. According to the results of the FGDs 
in the outcome harvesting of the S4C (sport for change) activity, the youth reported that these 
sessions not only increased their self-confidence, sense of responsibility and leadership, but also 
enabled them to work for a collective cause within their respective communities in order to reduce 
their participation in acts of violence
Similarly, awareness caravans against drug use among youth in the different intervention 
communities have reached a considerable number of young girls and boys. An activity much 
appreciated by community leaders.
O1.2: Percentage of young men and women who agree that they are involved in creating a safe and 
productive society.
This indicator aimed at appreciating young men and women for their contribution to building a safe 
and/or productive community, which was 37% at the beginning, is 52% at the end of the project, an 
increase of 15%. 
In fact, as revealed by the outcome harvesting, the adults stated that they had observed an increase 
in the youth's awareness of the need to get involved and actively participate in the management of 
community affairs (construction or rehabilitation of local mosques, cleaning of gutters, etc.), thus 
enabling them to assert themselves within the community since their participation in the Lafia program
activities. Both individual and collective changes following the different sessions were appreciated by 
the community.
37% 39%
52%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Baseline Midline Endline
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 11
O2.1: Percentage of people who believe there is social cohesion in the community
Compared to the pre-project situation, where 64% of the interviewees stated that the overall climate 
of cohesion both among community members and with neighboring communities was good, at the 
end of the project there was an improvement in the level of social relations and collaboration as well 
as the level of trust and social interaction. In fact, 70% of respondents feel that there is cohesion 
within their community at the end of the project. This is partly due to the constant support of the project
actors and the accompaniment to the realization of projects and initiatives developed by the 
communities such as the realization of boreholes, large diameter wells, rehabilitation of socio-cultural 
and sports spaces (basketball court and others), factors that stimulate social cohesion within the 
communities.
O2.2: Percentage of people who believe that conflict management officials in their area are able to 
prevent and resolve conflicts in their community
This variable, designed to examine the ability of customary or traditional leaders (village chiefs, 
councilors, etc.) and government and communal authorities (mayors, prefects, etc.) in charge of 
resolving disputes to prevent and/or peacefully resolve community conflicts by reaching an equitable 
solution, increased by 10%. 
Overall, 71% of respondents in Kayes and 68% in Bamako feel confident in the ability of community 
leaders to better prevent and peacefully resolve intercommunity disputes. In contrast, initially only 
55% of respondents in Kayes and 65% in Bamako felt confident in the leaders' ability to resolve 
conflicts. This rate could be linked to capacity building of community authorities on new tools and 
64%
70% 70%
61%
62%
63%
64%
65%
66%
67%
68%
69%
70%
71%
Baseline Midline Endline
60%
68%
70%
54%
56%
58%
60%
62%
64%
66%
68%
70%
72%
Baseline Midline Endline
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 12
techniques to prevent and mitigate the serious consequences of inter- and intra- community conflicts, 
but also and above all to the operationalization of the early warning and response mechanism to local 
conflicts.
O3.1: Percentage of people who believe that national policies to promote peace will benefit their ethnic 
and geographic communities.
This variable, designed to measure those who believe that national policies to promote peace will 
benefit their ethnic and geographic communities, increased from 47% at baseline to 59% at the end 
of the program, an increase of 12%.
This rate is explained by the fact that communities were unaware of both the existence and content 
of the peace agreement between the Malian government and the armed groups, as well as the 
national policy to prevent violent extremism. The discussion and sharing forums and dissemination 
workshops in the Kayes region and Bamako district helped explain the content of these policies (the 
pillars, national strategies, benefits, etc.).
O3.2: Percentage of people who report receiving information on a regular basis about national peace 
policies
Compared to the pre-project situation, the findings show a 13% increase in this indicator, which 
measures regular access to information on national peace promotion policies, as a result of the Lafia 
program's efforts to increase community support for the implementation of these policies. The survey 
identified multiple existing mechanisms for sharing information on national peace policy. In rural 
areas, these channels include consultation frameworks/meetings, town criers, and radio stations. In 
47%
59%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Baseline Endline
54%
67%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Baseline Endline
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 13
urban areas, the appropriate means of conveying messages on peace and violent extremism are the 
media (television, radio, social networks, etc.).
Detailed table of results:
code Indicator Baseline Midline Endline
G1
Percentage of people who feel that their 
communities are and will continue to be 
peaceful, safe and secure. 38% 45% 51%
Women 42% 52% 67%
Men 35% 40% 45%
Bamako 36% 42% 70%
Kayes 40% 48% 38%
Youth 38% 46% 59%
Adults 39% 45% 46%
15-19 years 36% 50% 60%
20-24 years 40% 42% 65%
25-35 years 35% 45% 56%
More than 35 years 39% 45% 50%
Unknown 47% 42% 50%
O1.1
Percentage of targeted youth who believe that 
the use of violence to defend a social or 
political cause is never justified 86% 84% 89%
Women 90% 88% 94%
Men 83% 81% 86%
Bamako 88% 76% 88%
Kayes 83% 90% 90%
Youth 85% 82% 54%
Adults 87% 87% 91%
15-19 years 84% 88% 91%
20-24 years 88% 80% 82%
25-35 years 83% 80% 87%
More than 35 years 87% 87% 91%
Unknown 88% 75% 86%
O1.2
Percentage of Youth, Men, and Women who 
agree that they are helping to create a safe and 
productive society 37% 39% 52%
Women 38% 28% 26%
Men 37% 48% 22%
Bamako 39% 47% 27%
Kayes 35% 33% 22%
Youth 37% 39% 52%
Adults NA NA 0%
15-19 years 29% 18% 47%
20-24 years 30% 33% 55%
25-35 years 43% 49% 51%
More than 35 years NA NA 0%
Unknown NA NA 0%
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O2.1
Percentage of people who believe there is 
social cohesion in the community 64% 70% 70%
Women 68% 69% 71%
Men 60% 71% 69%
Bamako 57% 60% 76%
Kayes 70% 78% 64%
Youth 59% 62% 69%
Adults 70% 78% 71%
15-19 years 57% 54% 73%
20-24 years 48% 65% 63%
25-35 years 65% 64% 70%
More than 35 years 70% 78% 71%
Unknown 41% 67% 43%
O2.2
Percentage of people who believe that conflict 
management officials in their area are able to 
prevent and resolve conflicts in their 
community. 60% 68% 70%
Women 64% 70% 75%
Men 57% 66% 68%
Bamako 65% 69% 68%
Kayes 55% 66% 71%
Youth 59% 64% 71%
Adults 62% 72% 70%
15-19 years 54% 56% 87%
20-24 years 55% 69% 72%
25-35 years 63% 64% 67%
More than 35 years 62% 72% 70%
Unknown 41% 67% 43%
O3.1
Percentage of people who believe that national 
policies to promote peace will benefit their 
ethnic and geographic communities 47% 83% 59%
Women 50% 75% 43%
Men 46% 85% 64%
Bamako 36% 83% 57%
Kayes 71% 83% 63%
Youth 38% 75% 60%
Adults 55% 87% 59%
15-19 years 33% 100% NA
20-24 years 33% 50% NA
25-35 years 39% 78% 60%
More than 35 years 55% 87% 59%
Unknown 100% NA 50%
O3.2
Percentage of people who report receiving 
information on a regular basis about national 
peace policies 54% 71% 67%
Women 46% 71% 64%
Men 60% 71% 46%
Bamako 67% 69% 66%
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Kayes 41% 72% 67%
Youth 55% 67% 61%
Adults 54% 79% 72%
15-19 years 40% 64% 56%
20-24 years 53% 61% 58%
25-35 years 61% 70% 64%
More than 35 years 54% 79% 72%
Unknown 29% 8% 57%
VI. RESULTS RELATED TO THE SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS
With a view to sustaining the project's achievements, strengthening social ties and collaborative 
relationships within the beneficiary communities, a number of measures/initiatives have been taken 
or planned according to the participants in the various discussions (focus groups, workshops, 
individual interviews) to create sustainable processes/institutions/norms for peace.
Measures/initiatives taken or planned to sustain gains
Number of respondents
Bamako Kayes Total
Maximize awareness sessions during celebrations as well as inter￾community meetings on conflict prevention and management for 
sustainable peace
4 13 17
Continue and perpetuate the initiatives/messages received in our 
communities 1 10 11
Encouraging youth to become entrepreneurs 2 2
Assisting law enforcement in the peacekeeping process 5 5
Establish associations or committees to manage conflicts 8 8
Reactivate the vigilance brigades and organize periodic meetings 
between the men, youth, and women of the village. 2 2
Grand Total 5 40 45
VII. GENDER MAINSTREAMING
The project produced different results for the men, women, young girls and young boys who all 
participated actively and equally in the project activities. The Sport for Change project was composed 
MERCY CORPS Lafia: Endline Report, November 2021 16
of both male and female clubs, with male and female instructors sharing the same roles in conflict 
management, as well as female and male leaders.
In the Outcome Study, we conducted focus groups with women, men, young girls and young boys. 
After analysis, it was found that:
The men who were already in conflict management, have had capacity building and are now doing it 
in a peaceful way, working together to bring cohesion in the community and have become more 
tolerant of women and youth boys and girls.
The young boys are now respected and considered by the elders and the village or district chiefs 
and their advisors, because they now have a place in the patriarchal house when decisions are made. 
They are listened to, and their opinion is taken into account.
The women are now consulted and participate in decision making, they have access to information 
when there is a rumor (conflict) and by their own means put an end to these conflicts without going to 
the head of the neighborhood or village. Thanks to the EWS, they have taken on positions of 
responsibility that they were previously not allowed to have, in the same way as the men, and they 
play an essential role in conflict prevention and management. Previously, they were completely 
sidelined. They are more listened to and respected for what they say and for what they do.
The young girls: Before Lafia's intervention, the community had a negative perception of girls /
women's sports activities (soccer or basketball) because sports were long considered an activity for 
boys only. After the project, the girls saw themselves in the forefront along with the boys and went 
beyond the community's prejudices about their participation in sports. This contributes to their 
development in the same way as the boys. Although they are not yet involved in community decision￾making, they are beginning to take initiatives at the community level, such as organizing community 
service activities like village sanitation.
VIII. EFFECTS OF THE PROJECT
8.1 Results of the Group Interviews
In addition to quantitative data, focus group discussions were conducted to gather as much 
information as possible about respondents' perceptions of the conflict situation (level of violence and 
insecurity, participation of Youth and women's groups in the peace process and social cohesion, etc.). 
- Perceptions of households and different focus groups on the level of violence and insecurity in 
the communities
Overall, the information from the various focus group discussions on questions related to levels of 
violence, insecurity, and the level of trust and collaboration between members of their community 
clearly show remarkable changes following the implementation of the Lafia program. Indeed, when 
asked about the current level of violence and the security situation in their community, half of the 
respondents remain optimistic about the improvement of the security situation in their community. 
According to FGD participants, the level of trust has increased even though rivalry or competition still 
exists between youth, women and men, but they accept each other.
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If the level of violence and delinquency was quite high among young people in Bamako as well as in 
the localities concerned in the Kayes region before the intervention of the Lafia program, nowadays 
it has drastically decreased, especially in the areas known as violent zones. This is thanks to Lafia's 
activities (caravan/awareness campaign as well as training and sports and cultural activities). 
"Currently in our community, it is the youth themselves who keep watch at night to ensure the 
security of the village and its surroundings," said a young leader (monitor) from the community of 
Tafacirga Gadiaga in the Kayes circle.
- Focus group participants' perceptions of the level of youth involvement and participation 
in building a safe and productive community.
In Bamako, youths were more active in political and income-generating activities (trade and so on). 
Managing collective and community affairs was not their priority. The project, through training 
sessions, sports and cultural activities, has succeeded in getting youth to participate actively in 
community activities (building socio-cultural infrastructure, ceremonies, for example). In Kayes, 
communities report a real improvement in the level of confidence and involvement of youth and groups 
of young boys and girls in building a peaceful, safe community. "Before, youth were just pushed 
aside, they weren't really associated with common causes. But now the youth are key actors, 
even the cornerstones of the realization of community activities, such as road rehabilitation, 
water supply, sanitation, reforestation, organization of cultural and sports activities. They help 
the women in the development of market gardens, mediation during community conflicts. In 
the same way, our youth who are currently in exile contribute financially to the success of 
community activities", testified a community leader from the rural commune of Koussané in the 
circle of Kayes during the Outcome Harvesting workshop of S4C activities.
- Focus Group Discussions (FGD) respondent’s perceptions of community leaders' ability to 
peacefully resolve local conflicts
Overall, the information from the discussion sessions with respondents indicates the existence of 
traditional mechanisms for resolving local conflicts (committees of wise men composed of traditional 
leaders and including people considered middle class, etc). These mechanisms were deficient in their 
role of preventing and resolving inter- and intra- community disputes because of the lack of 
appropriate and effective resolution techniques. The arrival of Mercy Corps in their communities,
through the Lafia program, helped to better equip community and administrative authorities through 
training and capacity building sessions/workshops on conflict resolution techniques and the early
warning and rapid response system. "In the past, we used to refer our land disputes, 
interpersonal and inter-professional conflicts (especially between farmers and herders) to the 
regional level because of the inability of our chiefs, despite their efforts, to manage them 
peacefully. But today, following their participation in the Lafia program’s trainings, whatever 
the type and state of the conflict, they manage to find equitable solutions. I personally 
intervene in our neighboring families in case of marital conflicts, thanks to the training I 
received," reports a woman leader from the town of Falémé, in the Kayes circle.
8.2 Results of individual surveys on the level of project performance 
The final evaluation allowed us to know the level of performance of the indicators and the achievement 
of the objectives. Through the Outcome Harvesting data, we will highlight the changes that the Sport 
for Change, Early Warning System (EWS) and community projects and initiatives have brought to the 
community.
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IX. CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS
In view of the results shown above, after two years of implementation and in the localities where it 
has intervened, Lafia has achieved most of its expected objectives and has had significant effects on 
the community. Referring to the overall objective of the evaluation, the following are the main findings 
and conclusions in relation to the key indicators.
G1: Percentage who feel their communities are and will continue to be peaceful, safe and secure:
With the involvement of local leaders, youth and adults (men and women), Lafia through Sport for 
Change activities has increased the knowledge and confidence of the youth, (Kayes and Bamako) 
who have become very proactive in dealing with existing conflicts and enterprising in dealing with 
future conflicts. Customary leaders have strengthened their leadership in peacekeeping by 
participating fully in the program. As a result, the perception of each other in terms of security has 
increased considerably (13% increase, reaching 51%). Through his intervention, Lafia offered the 
community the opportunity to create or perpetuate a climate where understanding, cohesion and 
acceptance of all will be the engines of a better life in the community. However, even if the objective 
was achieved, for a truly sustainable peace, the continuation of activities is a necessity.
✓ O1.1: Percentage of targeted Youth who believe that the use of violence to defend a social 
or political cause is never justified:
Youth are using less violence as a means of defense, and their perception of how to express their 
emotions or to make themselves heard has changed; they now do so in a peaceful and reasoned 
manner. However, we noticed during the Outcome Study that the youth are increasingly frustrated 
because of unemployment. It would be necessary and important to integrate training activities in 
trades such as sewing, welding, fattening, and market gardening, and to provide them with the 
financial means to implement their skills. This could greatly contribute to the reduction of delinquency 
and depravity of the youth.
✓ O1.2: Percentage of youth, men, and women who agree that they are helping to create a 
safe and productive society:
Overall, 51% of the youth think they are in favor of this indicator in their community. However, even 
though there has been an increase, this is not enough to ensure that even after Lafia's intervention, 
these youth, men, and women will continue to be actors in the creation of a safe and productive 
society. It would be important to consider integrating a component to support youth with income￾generating activities for the sustainability of the impact on youth.
✓ O2.1: Percentage of people who believe there is social cohesion in the community:
The level of trust between the communities has increased to 70% and this is on several levels:
− Different communities that used to be in conflict now work together for cohesion, 
− Ethnic groups that were once segregated in life events now participate equally in all social 
events in the community.
Even though the result is quite positive at this level, the road to global acceptance is long and 
therefore more activities are needed that will lead the community to trust each other more, to foster 
more dialogue on the importance of accepting diversity/difference in all aspects.
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✓ O2.2: Percentage of people who believe that conflict management officials in their area are 
able to prevent and resolve conflicts in their community:
Customary and local leaders have been heavily involved in almost all of the activities Lafia has 
conducted during its intervention. They have been trained to better prevent conflict and equipped with 
tools to resolve them in a very peaceful manner. And little by little they regained the trust of the 
community, they became very independent and their capacity to resolve conflict and create a climate 
of cohesion really increased (up to 70%).
✓ O3.1: Percentage of people who believe that national policies to promote peace will benefit 
their ethnic and geographic communities:
This indicator for the end of the program is 59%, which still shows a lack of awareness of the two 
policies. Since the beginning of Lafia's project until now, the country has experienced a reversal of 
the situation vis-à-vis the government, resulting in instability in the country. Therefore, forums or 
even dissemination of the content of the peace agreement in support of government structures 
should be organized at several levels: communes, cercles and regions. 
O3.2: Percentage of people who report receiving information on a regular basis about national 
peace policies:
The recommendations that were made during the Baseline should be renewed for future interventions 
or similar projects, even if the indicator is at 67%, there are still many other activities to be carried out 
in this sense so that communities are regularly informed about peace policies, even if this must involve 
the participation of local or national authorities in the country.
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CONTACT
Moussa Altine Amadou
PAQ LEAD | Mercy Corps Mali
almoussa@mercycorps.org
Alliou Traoré
Program Director| Mercy Corps Mali
atraore@mercycorps.org
Nina Taka
Country Director | Mercy Corps Mali
ntaka@mercycorps.org
About Mercy Corps
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disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around 
the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action 
— helping people triumph over adversity and build 
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