By strengthening young people’s leadership and civic engagement, Extremely Together in the Sahel aims to reduce their vulnerability and help them become drivers of peace in their communities.
The Challenge
Burkina Faso and Niger are ranked among the five countries most affected by terrorism globally according to the 2025 Global Terrorism Index. Despite considerable efforts by both countries to combat this violence, attacks by terrorist groups have created a major humanitarian crisis.
There are over 2.6 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Burkina Faso and 507,438 in Niger. Young people, who make up two-thirds of the population in both countries, are also affected by this insecurity, which has forced the closure of many schools and destroyed job opportunities and means of production.
About the project
Extremely Together in the Sahel addresses security challenges in Niger and Burkina Faso by empowering young people who are often marginalised from peace-building efforts and by supporting their efforts to prevent violence and promote social cohesion. Led by the Kofi Annan Foundation, Suudu Andal, and Cercle Dev, the project builds on the wider Extremely Together experience developed in other countries affected by violent extremism, such as Somalia, Uganda, Pakistan, and the Philippines.
Objectives
The project aims to build youth networks that promote togetherness and prevent violent extremism within their communities in Niger and Burkina Faso.
In Niger, the project is implemented in the Tahoua region, where a significant number of young people are affected by migration, drug use and illicit trafficking in a context marked by incursions by terrorist groups (in the north and south-west) and by the rise in banditry (particularly on the border with Nigeria and in certain urban centres). In Burkina Faso, activities are carried out in Ouahigouya, in the Yadega region in the north of the country. It has the country’s second-highest unemployment rate and is a major hub for displaced populations, creating a high-pressure environment for local youth.
Projected Impact
Extremely Together in the Sahel
400
400 young people — who are out of school, unemployed, or internally displaced — implement 14 community projects that promote “togetherness”.
40 young leaders are trained to serve as mobilisers and lead peacebuilding efforts.
40
Civic engagement & intergenerational dialogue
Through participatory, inclusive dialogue at regional symposia and online exchanges, young people share their insights and present recommendations to local and regional decision-makers.
Country Partners
Extremely Together Sahel
Extremely Together Burkina Faso
Suudu Andal
In Burkina Faso, Suudu Andal has been pursuing its vision of contributing to a more just, inclusive, united and prosperous world since 2016. Through its nationwide presence and network of volunteers, Suudu Andal focuses on leadership and empowerment of young people and women, as well as their participation in peace and development. It has a strong mobilisation capacity and works with other associations and institutions at the local, national and international levels to amplify its impact.
Extremely Together Niger
Cercle Dev
Since 2016, Cercle Dev has been working to foster an active and responsible youth that creates added value in the Sahel. In a spirit of inclusion, innovation, and diverse partnerships, Cercle Dev’s network of more than 300 volunteers is particularly active in supporting rural and peri-urban populations in Niger living in precarious conditions. Through tea debates, forum theatre, community dialogue, professional training, mentoring and sport, Cercle Dev aims to harness local potential, empower young people to become agents of the change they aspire to and thus foster a local dynamic of development.
Funder
More Regional Chapters
Publications + Media
Tackling Violent Extremism in Uganda: Lessons Learnt
Lessons Learnt from a Community Resilience Approach Violent extremism (VE) is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, bringing terror and instability to all sections of society. Today, there are fewer terrorist groups, but the nature and scale of attacks carried out by groups like the Allied Democratic Forces in Uganda are becoming […]
Preventing Violent Extremism: A Training Guide
Empowering young people to prevent violent extremism – A guide to help young activists train their peers on preventing violent extremism. Building on the experience and expertise we have accumulated through Extremely Together since 2016, the Kofi Annan Foundation has developed a training guide for young people on preventing violent extremism. Through this resource, we […]
Evaluation Report | Youth preventing violent extremism in urban South and Southeast Asia
The Kofi Annan Foundation is pleased to share the Evaluation Report for the “Leading the Way to Peace – Youth Together for Social Cohesion” project. This report summary presents the external evaluation findings by the Agency for Peacebuilding (AP) for the project. The “Leading the Way to Peace – Youth Together for Social Cohesion” project […]