04.15.2018

Promoting Peacebuilding, Resilience, Conflict Resolution, Inclusion, and Equity in Conflict-Affected Regions of Mali

Deputy Chief of Party Lena Thiam delineates the agenda and purpose of the workshop.

The CAMRIS-implemented, Mali Education Emergency Support Activity (EESA) works to promote peacebuilding, resilience, conflict resolution, inclusion, and equity in conflict-affected regions of Mali. The project facilitates teacher trainings on gender and gender-based violence (GBV), strengthens the capacity of education personnel to develop gender and conflict sensitive education services, and trains school personnel to recognize signs of distress.

In the most recent quarter ending in December 2017, the Mali EESA team conducted teacher trainings in 181 schools, including 74 satellite schools. The team will conduct additional trainings this year. The objective of the gender trainings is for teachers to adopt attitudes and behaviors that promote equitable learning opportunities and teaching practices for both girls and boys. The trainings are structured around the following themes: school and classroom equity, strategies to combat discriminatory stereotypes in schools, and pedagogical practices promoting equity in the classroom. The objective of the GBV trainings is to strengthen the capacities of teachers in the prevention and m​anagement of GBV in schools. The trainings focus on the following themes: appropriation of key concepts of GBV; consequences and impacts of GBV on individuals, families, and communities; appropriation of GBV communication principles based on the needs and interests of the survivors; appropriation of answers and prevention programs of GBV; and appropriation of roles and objectives of various actors.

In support of strengthening the capacity of educators to develop gender and conflict education services, the Mali EESA Conflict Advisor conducted a literature review, consulted with various project representatives and stakeholders, and completed draft “Resilience, Inclusion, and Culture of Peace in Education” modules for EESA. The Mali EESA team is sharing these training materials with the Direction Nationale de l’Enseignement Normal (DNEN, the National Directorate of General Education) in coordination with the Ministère de l'Education Nationale (MEN, the Ministry of National Education). Further, it will conduct additional trainings this quarter with the 60 trainer focal points of the Centres d’Animation Pédagogique (CAPs, Center for Pedagogical Animation; district level), Académies d’Enseignement (AEs, teaching academies; regional level), and relevant departments of the MEN, as well as train school principals.

School personnel learn how to recognize signs of distress and strategies for providing psychosocial support.

The Mali EESA project also has trained school personnel to recognize signs of distress so that educators can provide appropriate and accessible psychosocial support. It held trainings in Ségou, Mopti, Timbuktu, Gao, and Kidal from December 28 to 31, 2017. School directors and Agents de Mobilisation Communautaires (community engagement officers) facilitated the trainings for the targeted schools, which received new teachers, and pedagogical advisors conducted the trainings in 74 satellite schools. The training sessions included the following themes: counseling activities, and importance of recreational activities (identification, animation), which focused on psychosocial support activities. The Mali EESA team trained 721 school personnel, including 638 teachers and 88 school directors in the five regions. A USAID/EESA focal point at the CAP of Djenné stated, “The training on education in a context of conflict has hugely contributed to our work. We have gained a lot of knowledge on attitudes during conflict and crisis. Now I am more motivated to go out to supervise school than I could have imagined before this training.”

The Mali EESA teams continues to make significant progress in achieving its targets and looks forward to continuing its collaboration with educators and stakeholders in Mali to improve the delivery of conflict and gender sensitive basic educational services.

More Information on the CAMRIS Implemented, Mali EESA Project