Supporting Gender- and Conflict Sensitive Inclusive Governance in Mali

In March 2019, The Hague Academy’s inclusive governance expert Freddy Sahinguvu conducted a three days training of trainers on gender sensitive inclusive governance/conflict sensitive governance in Bamako/Mali for 10 young men and 10 young women from the National Youth Council. The training was an assignment of VNGI as a part of the IDEAL Mali project, which focuses on gender- and conflict sensitive management – in the context of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and the development of the municipal Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan. The training of trainers capacitated the Youth National Council participants, so that they can train CSOs representing Women and girls on issues of gender sensitive inclusive governance and conflict sensitive governance.

During the training, the participants were trained on interactive adult training approach, inclusive governance concepts and tools, how to improve inclusive governance within the youth national council and how to stimulate meaningful participation in governance mechanisms within their communes. They discussed further what issues need to be addressed, which actors should be involved and what needs to change to achieve meaningful inclusive governance. At the end of each session, the participants designed their own facilitation plan, as a way to prepare them for CSOs training. For many of the young participants this was quite challenging exercise, as they had never been asked to design a training in such a detailed manner before. However, they were very committed to learn and apply the skills acquired. At the end of the training, The Hague Academy’s expert designed a CSOs training programme for three days with them. At the end of the training the youth were very motivated to apply their newly gained knowledge in CSOs training and within the Youth National Council.

IDEAL Mali Project

VNG International supports 5 pilot municipalities through the IDEAL Mali program. The pilot municipalities are selected to benefit from support in the implementation of participatory and inclusive planning, as well as sustainable and integrated management of water resources. The Hague Academy for Local Governance (THA) is engaged in the project to provide training to partners and representatives of the 5 pilot communes on gender and conflict sensitive management – in the context of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and the development of the municipal Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan.