The project aims to promote locally led, justice-oriented peacebuilding and inclusive governance initiatives by strengthening communities’ capacity to peacefully transform conflicts in the Banfora and Niangoloko communes in the Cascades Region. Representing relatively stable areas, the communes have been increasingly affected by population displacement, economic pressures, and the evolving conflict dynamics linked to the broader crisis in the Sahel.

The project seeks to contribute to inclusive, just, and resilient peace by strengthening locally-led peacebuilding mechanisms and inclusive governance, while placing women’s and youth leadership at its core. Through participatory mapping, mentoring, intergenerational dialogue, and targeted capacity building, the programme strengthens the capacity of young women, youth groups, and civil society organizations to act as credible peace actors. One of the goals of the programme is to enhance meaningful participation of women and young people, who often play informal mediation roles but remain underrepresented in formal decision-making, in mediation processes.