Do Livelihood Interventions Contribute to the Prevention of Violent Extremism?

Abstract

In recent years, livelihood interventions have proliferated in response to violent extremism (VE) driven by socioeconomic challenges in the Sahel. This article evaluates two interventions in Mali targeting at-risk populations (talibés, detainees and former detainees) using a context–mechanism–outcome realist evaluation. Through a mixed-methods approach, Emmanuel Nene Odjidja, Samhita Ayaluri and Daria Fiodorov found that the interventions enhanced livelihood access and fostered trust between at-risk populations and the community. However, converting livelihood access into increased economic resilience for VE prevention requires contextual considerations. To promote VE prevention and resilience, they recommend integrating livelihood interventions with other peacebuilding efforts, addressing systematic, personal and process factors, and adopting a socio-ecological perspective. ■