BAMAKO, February 28, 2017—The World Bank approved today a $15 million IDA grant for the Mali Reinsertion of Ex-combatants Project. The Project will target an estimate of 4,000 demobilized ex-combatants in six regions of Mali: Timbuktu, Gao, Kidal, Ménaka, Taoudeni, and Mopti, and will support their socio-economic reinsertion within local communities.
“This project constitutes the World Bank contribution to the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reinsertion (DDR) process, as envisaged in the Mali 2015 Peace Agreement,” said Abderrahim Fraiji, World Bank Task Team Leader of the project. “The eligible ex-combatants will be offered an opportunity to develop income-generating activities as a result of personalized counselling and orientation sessions, vocational trainings, and through a reinsertion start-up support. The reinsertion process will be accompanied by close follow-up, monitoring and evaluation throughout the project. The reinsertion activities will also be implemented in synergy with development projects, based on the assumption that sustainable development activities in Mali cannot be achieved without security, and vice-versa.”
The project is fully aligned with the Government’s action plan (“Plan d’Action du Gouvernement”) 2013-2018, which includes six areas of intervention:
- establishment of strong and credible institutions;
- nation-wide safety and security restoration for people and goods;
- implementation of an active national reconciliation policy;
- reconstruction of schools;
- construction of an emerging economy; and
- implementation of an active social development policy.
It is also aligned with and the Cadre Stratégique pour la Relance Economique et le Développement Durable 2016-2018 which goals are to strengthen peace and security, and stabilizing macroeconomic frameworks.
