The project “Strengthening the socio-economic participation of internally displaced persons, refugees and vulnerable host communities in Mali” (PAPSE), a module of BMZ’s Special Initiative ‘Forced Displacement’, aims at improving the conditions for decent, productive employment of IDPs, refugees and the vulnerable Host Population (HP) in selected municipalities in Mali, specifically in the regions of Bamako, Kayes, Ségou, Mopti and Gao.

The module is seeking to overcome one of the most significant constraints on broad-based economic growth in Mali – namely, lacking access of almost all Internally Displaced People (IDPs), refugees and HP to (vocational) skills training and resources necessary for participation and growth. The project hypothesis is that, if this constraint can be reduced, the Target Group (TG) will be able to find employment and/or start their own small business. As a result, the TG would improve their livelihood and become financially more sustainable, lessening the burden on HPs and thus living together peacefully in a socially cohesive manner.

The consortium AMBERO-GOPA-GOPA INFRA is responsible for achieving Output 1 in the regions Bamako, Kayes, Mopti and Ségou and contributing to Output 2. Improving social cohesion among the TG is sought to be achieved through improving access of TG to vocational and social qualification measures geared towards the Target Groups‘s and labor market needs (Output 1) and by contributing to improving the TG’s access to income generation opportunities (Output 2). The consortium is directly responsible for at least 3,000 people from the TG having access to training measures by November 2025, out of which 50% IDPs and/or refugees, 50% vulnerable host population, 35% women and 70% youth. Quality training, based on accredited curricula, is provided for demanded sectors such as agriculture, livestock farming, photovoltaics, telecommunication, construction works, and more.

Furthermore, the project shall introduce and/or improve decentralized vocational and/or social qualification measures in at least 22 municipalities and support technically and financially 15 vocational training structures in the regions Bamako, Ségou, Kayes and Mopti.