Peace Through Development II (PDev II)

Peace through Development II (PDevII) is USAID/West Africa (WA) regional peace and governance sector's flagship program in support of the Trans-Sahara Counter Terrorism Partnership (TSCTP).

The program is designed as a development response to counter the appeal of extremist movements in specific country contexts, with a particular focus on at-risk youth. It targets specific regions in the focus countries for TSCTP, which include Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso.

TSCTP efforts are informed by a series of joint assessments and ongoing planning with interagency partners.PDev II builds on lessons learned from the previous regional program and earlier pilot programs.

The overall goal of the program is to increase resiliency to violent extremism in at-risk communities by empowering youth, increasing moderate voices, enhancing civil society capacity to address community issues, and strengthening local governance.Violent Islamist extremist groups in the region (including AQIM and Boko Haram) attempt to use both weak governance and extremist messaging to radicalize more moderate communities with the aim of increasing numbers as well as expanding their support base.

Using improved governance and media, the program fosters an environment that makes it more difficult for terrorists to gain local sponsorship, sanctuary and support.

Program activities increase involvement of targeted populations in public life as well as improve access to messages of tolerance and peace, directly addressing critical issues such as weak governance and extremist messaging.