The Partnerships for Peace Program (P4P) was a five-year initiative funded by the U.S. Agência para o Desenvolvimento Internacional (USAID) working across Burkina Faso, Chade, Mauritânia, and Niger to build regional and national partnerships aimed at countering violent extremism and fostering long-term peacebuilding in West Africa.
Violent extremism poses a significant threat to regional stability and citizen security in West Africa, fueled by porous borders, weak government institutions, proliferation of weapons, and deep-rooted grievances. Heavy-handed counter-terrorism measures have often exacerbated the situation by alienating at-risk communities and exacerbating grievances that fuel extremism, highlighting the urgent need for effective and sustainable approaches to counter violent extremism (CVE).
P4P adopted a comprehensive approach to address the challenge of violent extremism in West Africa. A nível regional, the program collaborated with institutions like the Permanent Secretariat of the G5 Sahel to develop and implement effective and sustainable CVE programs. This included supporting the development of regional guiding frameworks and lexicons for CVE strategies. A nível nacional, P4P assisted governments in crafting national strategies and policies to counter violent extremism and address root causes in vulnerable communities. Além disso, the program worked closely with civil society to strengthen networks and coordination among advocacy groups, traditional and religious leaders, juventude, and women’s groups to enhance CVE approaches.
Program achievements
P4P supported the development of national strategies for countering violent extremism in partner countries, aiming for their adoption and implementation to enhance security and peacebuilding efforts.
The program facilitated regional coordination on CVE through the development and implementation of regional guiding frameworks and initiatives, fostering collaboration among member states to address shared security challenges.
P4P strengthened civil society networks in West Africa, promoting increased coordination and advocacy efforts among diverse groups, including traditional and religious leaders, juventude, and women’s organizations, to support CVE approaches and community resilience.
The overall goal of P4P was to reduce vulnerability to violent extremism in West Africa, leading to decreased extremist activities and improved community resilience against radicalization and violence.