Analysis of social and power dynamics of stakeholders for the implementation of multi-year MultiPurpose Cash Transfers in North Mali

Six INGOs (Hunger Against Action, Danish Refugee Council, Handicap International, Oxfam, Solidarités International and International Rescue Committee) have been implementing a MultiPurpose Cash Transfers programme in Mali; the second phase of this social safety net intervention targets the communes the most affected by crises and which have a vulnerability index between very vulnerable and vulnerable.
The six partners analysed social structures and dynamics as the programme seeks to support the most vulnerable households on the medium term and because the intervention context is very complex, with fragile security conditions.

The study aimed to:
– Define the socio-anthropological, political and security environment in which the programme operates;
– Define the notion of power, its foundations and its challenges, and make a typology of the different types of power and power relations, both formal and informal, and the underlying mechanisms that govern and regulate the way communities and households function;
– Understand the interactions between the programme and the context by analysing the potential effects of cash transfers already made in the area on social dynamics, and understand if this type of programme contributes to augmenting initial power asymmetries;
– Identify risks and opportunities for the implementation of the programme, knowing that the Government is planning on putting in place social safety nets in the area.

This document presents a summary of the main findings and conclusions of the study. The full report is available in French.