The increased power The activities of violent extremist groups in Africa require cross-sectoral solutions that go beyond military operations.
Now it almost belongs to Africa half of it all global deaths from terrorism each year. Benin– one of the countries where our organization is located, TechnoServework – two security incidents occurred in 2019. Only in the country in the first half of 2023 15. West Africa was also recorded during the same period 1800 terrorist attacks.
While better police and military security is essential for citizens to resist extremist influences and achieve secure livelihoods, long-term solutions must address the underlying factors that drive this dangerous trend.
Three steps to prevent violent extremism
These solutions must involve three key, interrelated approaches: 1) Applying strong business principles to strengthen livelihoods and sense of identity; 2) Solving cross-sectoral problems in areas such as gender and environment; and 3) Getting the right mix of organizations to lead these approaches.
Better, safer livelihoods
While many factors contribute to violent extremism, lack of economic opportunity often plays a major role. a 2023 UN study Interviews with more than 1,000 former members of violent extremist groups in Africa cited “unemployment” as the main reason respondents joined the groups.
But employment is not the whole answer; these livelihoods must also be reliable, profitable and secure. According to a UN Africa study, 44% of those who had a job when they joined an extremist group were in “vulnerable” jobs, providing unskilled and/or unstable work. Many ex-jihadists are also a desire to protect existing property or livelihood by joining extremist groups.
Houdou B., 28, from northern Benin, was one of these young people who once struggled to earn an income. In TechnoServe’s training program, he conducted a personal strengths assessment. He also acquired market analysis skills, beekeeping and agronomic skills and joined two village associations for savings and credit circulation.
Above all, he changed the way he thought about himself and his potential. “I was able to identify that I’m a planner…and I found it magical,” she says, adding that the training helped her say “beekeeping is a profession…and I’m an entrepreneur.”
After nearly 5,700 of these young people in Benin completed this training, their businesses increased their annual turnover by one. averaged 130% and created more than 12,000 jobs.
To consolidate these gains, we must work across the value chain. It helps local food processors improving business operations, for example, allows us to buy more products from farmers and create more jobs for the community.
Environmental and gender issues
Environmental and gender factors are also critical. Recently IMF study It predicted that sub-Saharan Africa’s productivity would decline by 5-17% by 2050, threatening the livelihoods of the nearly 70% of the region’s population who depend on agriculture for their income.
But such approaches regenerative agriculture (such as practices such as mulching, crop rotation, and agroforestry) can help farmers to improve productivity and income, while also coping with climate hazards.
Gender-sensitive approaches are also important. Frustrated by restrictive gender norms, many women are susceptible to the “upward social mobility” that extremist groups ostensibly offer. UN Africa study.
The women’s empowerment program should be included in all training and creatively reinforced through interactive radio programs, newspaper and television spots and inter-sectoral conferences. TechnoServe has also worked with communities to ensure women’s leadership in village homes, cooperatives and other organizations.
Emmanuella D., 32, who lives in northern Benin, said, “Thanks to (the training program), I have become financially independent, which has had a positive impact on my family’s quality of life.” “With my own investment, I have upgraded the equipment of the farm… I also contribute to the expenses of the house, such as electricity and water bills.”
His monthly income is now 10-25 times more than his previous income.
Reliable partners
Ultimately, it is not about “how” but “who” that these approaches are delivered. Many young people, vulnerable to extremist recruitment, do not trust institutions such as national governments or security forces. When asked which groups should lead counter-extremism initiatives, respondents in 2023 UN Africa study named community and religious leaders; local government; and civil society organizations accordingly.
The importance of local, cross-sectoral ownership is part of the reason why TechnoServe works with professional training centers across Benin to adopt proven entrepreneurial methodologies in their institutions. These approaches will now be integrated with Benin national technical training curriculum.
We also organize monthly meetings within Benin involving actors in the youth entrepreneurship space such as local and international NGOs, banks and business groups, local religious leaders and entrepreneurship support organizations.
Cross-sector partners are critical to countering violent extremism. Most importantly, they must be trusted by the African youth themselves.
The result
Today, Houdou has gone from being desperate for her future to supporting her extended family with her income, creating jobs and serving as a role model in her community.
“Now everyone in the village is looking to start a business,” he says. “As for the violence, we see that it is disappearing more and more … now the priority is to do something to make money and change his life.”
African youths deserve as bright a future as they do. By developing sustainable livelihoods that increase self-worth; addressing issues such as climate change and gender inequality; and by working with trusted partners across sectors, we can help them make that future a reality.
