Mali Acted

Video: Building Peace, One Step at a Time in Mali

Since 2021, in the fragile regions of central and northern Mali, the project "Building for Peace" has pursued a clear objective: to anchor social cohesion in territories affected by conflict. Designed and implemented by Acted, in partnership with Search for Common Ground, Tassaght, and IMPACT Initiatives, with the support of the Fondation Facilité Sahel, the project combined a community-based approach, a logic of stabilization, and concrete multisectoral interventions.

At the heart of the project: dialogue.

In ten areas affected by insecurity and intercommunal mistrust, participatory consultations enabled residents, local leaders, and authorities to jointly define their priorities. These processes led to the development of community action plans, which were then translated into tangible investments.

  • 46+ public infrastructures built or rehabilitated (schools, health centers, markets, latrines, boreholes…)
  • All implemented through labour-intensive public works (LIPW), generating nearly 950 temporary jobs and direct support to the local economy
  • Hundreds of dialogue and awareness-raising sessions conducted, strengthening trust and cooperation among groups

Among the LIPW workers, Hassane Hamidou Maïga was able to start a small fuel sales business with the income he earned. A modest initiative — but a real turning point toward self-reliance and dignity.

As the project comes to an end, its participatory approach, local anchoring, and tangible results continue to inspire.
By translating the soft of social cohesion into the hard of physical infrastructure, “Building for Peace” demonstrates that local, inclusive, and visible peace is not only possible — but enduring.