Baseline Evaluation: Study on the Priorities Plan for the Consolidation of Peace in Niger and Related Projects (May 2017)

“Baseline Evaluation: Study on the Priorities Plan for the Consolidation of Peace in Niger and Related Projects – May 2017” (in French) – UNDP funded this two-month study in Niger, related to Nigeria’s Priority Plan for Peacebuilding, from November 2016 to January 2017.
In 2016, the Technical Secretariat of the United Nations Joint Steering Committee in Niger supported Search for Common Ground (Search)’s efforts to carry out a study to establish the baseline situation of the indicators of the 2015-2018 Priority Plan for Peacebuilding. The Peacebuilding Priority Plan in Niger aims to prevent conflict and promote lasting peace through the involvement of civil society, particularly youth, and to transform conflict peacefully. This study concentrated on three priority areas related to: the empowerment and peaceful involvement of youth in high-risk areas; promoting conflict prevention, management, and inclusive governance; and strengthening safety and security on border areas. The study was conducted through various research methods including through desk reviews, semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and a survey of more than 1,400 households.
The study indicated that the targeted communities presently lack adequately safe spaces for women and youth, but that there are structures in place to help women and youth be heard and empowered in their communities in some of the contexts targeted in the Priority Plan and these results also expressed need for the socioeconomic integration of youth, access to formal and informal training opportunities for youth and women, access to and participation of youth and women in community decision-making, and expanding the mechanisms for conflict prevention and management.