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Youth Work for a Bright Future in Mali

Dédeou Cisse, a 24-year-old, came from a household with meager resources in the Abaradjou district of Timbuktu. To meet the needs of his family, he dropped out of school and helped his father in masonry work. Later, Dédeou joined the Ganda-Izo militia in 2015 that comprised around 1500 volunteers but left after nine months as he longed to be part of the society again. When he returned home, Dédeou was treated like a petty criminal in his community, and no one hired him for work.

The PBF empowered Dedeou and young men like him with its community-based initiative that equipped young men and women with the vocational skills for sustainable employment. Dedeou started an apprenticeship in metal carpentry under the guidance of Ousmane Achor, the workshop manager in Abaradjou.

Dedeou quickly stood out for his knowledge and determination to move forward. He was disciplined and punctual at work,?said Ousmane. At the end of the apprenticeship term, Dedeou was hired by Osmane to work as his regular employee.

This community skills initiative benefitted more than 1800 youth across 60 communities in Mali.

"With this apprenticeship, my day-to-day life has changed and enabled me to practice the job of my dreams and rebuild my image in society. Today, my socio-economic empowerment and reintegration is a reality. I manage to support my parents financially to provide for their needs,” said Dedeou. ?

The PBF helped revitalize economies and generate immediate peace dividends for the population at large with a focus on employment generation and equitable access to social services. Stronger integrated approaches linked the participation of youth, women and vulnerable groups in decision-making processes and conflict prevention and peacebuilding with employment and livelihood opportunities. Based on insights from The Missing Peace, the study developed by UNFPA and the PBSO, in close collaboration with the Office of the Envoy on Youth, the PBF jump-started new partnerships and encouraged engagement in previously neglected or higher risk geographies, on livelihoods, food security and peacebuilding in remote rural or border regions.