Final Evaluation: New Life, New Hope: A Social Reintegration Program in the Sahel-Maghreb Region (September 2018)

The two-year project New Life, New Hope: A Social Reintegration Program in the Sahel-Maghreb Region in Niger, Mali and Morocco was funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
The project sought to improve the reintegration of detainees in Niger, Mali and Morocco. The prison conditions in these countries—and, in in particular, in Niger and Mali—are generally poor and not conducive to detainee rehabilitation. The main deficiencies are the overpopulation of the prisons, as well as a lack of social, medical and legal assistance and opportunities for recreational and professional activities. Moreover, in Niger and Mali, the judicial system lacks the ability to process court cases within a reasonable time limit and to guarantee fair process conditions. Search offered various socio-professional activities for detainees, and organized training activities for employees in the jurisdictional sector. It aired awareness-raising campaigns on various TV and radio channels to foster the destigmatization of detainees in society. Finally, Search organized activities to enhance collaboration and information-sharing between the project countries.
The socio-professional activities provided detainees with skills that enable them to find a job upon their release. The activities also provided detainees with meaningful ways to spend their time and promoted collaborative and peaceful relationships between the detainees. Prison management and personnel are now better prepared to provide successful reintegration programs, and have increased skills in conflict resolution, psycho-social support and inmate management.