Impact Assessment: Evaluation of Pro-PeaceInterventions to Build Trust and for Awareness-Raising and Sensitization at the Mali and Niger Border

Our findings indicate that the PBF-supported peace radio programming along the Mali and Niger border yielded a significant and positive impact on reducing the geographic spread of conflict in the immediate aftermath of its implementation. Areas within the broadcasting range of the trained community radio stations became relatively more peaceful, moving geographically further away from active episodes of violence compared to similar areas just outside the broadcast radius. However, these short-term improvements in the security environment did not yet translate into broader economic development, as measured by local land usage and nighttime light emissions. This demonstrates that while mass media interventions are highly effective and cost-efficient tools for altering patterns of violence in active conflict zones, local economic recovery may require more prolonged intervention or direct support.