Under the PEARL Task Order, NGS conducted a Violence and Conflict Assessment (VCA) to investigate the dynamics of violence, conflict, and information manipulation in Côte d’Ivoire and better understand and enhance information integrity and resilience within the country’s sociopolitical landscape. By examining the impacts of information manipulation, this assessment sought to inform programmatic decisions and strategic planning at USAID and the U.S. Embassy Abidjan ahead of the 2025 presidential election.
Under the PEARL mechanism, NGS also conducted a mid-term performance evaluation of the Resilience for Peace Program (R4P) in Côte d’Ivoire. This evaluation aimed to learn which R4P approaches are working to mitigate violent extremism and respond to the needs of local stakeholders, and why. As part of the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability (SPCPS) Global Evaluation portfolio, the evaluation also sought to identify contributions toward the SPCPS objectives, collect information useful for SPCPS regional learning, and inform best practices that can be sustainably scaled in the country and elsewhere.
NGS is proud to implement Côte d’Ivoire StARS (Storytelling for Advancing Resilience and Stability) for Embassy Abidjan. The StARS program is designed to address the challenges facing traditional journalists, social media influencers, thought leaders in Northern Côte d’Ivoire, including limited capacity due to inadequate technical knowledge and financial resources to capture and disseminate accurate information. These issues undermine their ability to effectively identify and amplify positive narratives, promote social cohesion, and engage in constructive youth engagement to counter violent extremism in light of the upcoming 2025 presidential election which poses heightened risks to the country’s stability and security. By enhancing the skills and resources of emerging voices, including technically savvy youth using social media, local journalists and social media influencers, StARS aims to foster community resilience and stability. The program provides rapid response small grants, mentorship, and tailored capacity-building activities ensuring a culturally resonant approach that addresses local needs and amplifies traditionally marginalized voices by diversifying the talent pool. StARS emphasizes sustainability by leveraging existing resources and support already given by the United States Government (USG) to local organizations, and engaging local civil society organizations, ensuring the program remains effective beyond the grant period. This initiative seeks to create a more informed and cohesive community, better prepared to navigate challenges and promote peace through high-quality journalism and media activities.
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