About the program
The US government Trans-Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership (TSCTP) worked on this CVE program in Mali, Africa. It sought to:
- increase civic participation
- reduce inter-group tension and violence
- strengthen the resistance of vulnerable groups - such as young men - to recruitment by violent extremist organisations.
Activities included:
- radio programs
- capacity building for local governments
- reading programs
- micro-finance.
Four Imams in Timbuktu took part. They worked with program managers to broadcast messages of peace and tolerance over local radio stations.
Key takeaways
An evaluation of one of these programs in two neighbouring towns in northern Mali showed that:
- Residents in Timbuktu exposed to the programming for up to 5 years showed measurably altered civic behaviour and listening patterns compared to their counterparts in the control town.
- There was little measurable difference between the groups around their cultural identities and attitudes towards the West.
- This study is unable to definitively prove a causal connection between programming and behavioural outcomes. But it does suggest that the process of “winning hearts and minds” can be effective at certain levels. This may need extended time and dedicated resources to generate higher-level results
- Strategic communication, such as messages broadcast through radio programming, can help:
- foster positive social networks
- provide opportunities for individuals to gain respect and recognition
- increase the circulation of moderate voices and perspectives.
Relevant reports
First Steps Towards Hearts and Minds? USAID's Countering Violent Extremism Policies in Africa, Daniel P. Aldrich, 2014, Terrorism and Political Violence, 26:3, 523-546, DOI