From the public to the private: mapping women’s formal and informal participation in peacebuilding in Mali

Abstract How do women navigate traditional and informal governance structures to influence matters of communal peace and security? We leverage focus group discussions with around 180 participants and 10 key informant interviews from five different villages in the Ségou region to provide a case study of women’s contributions to peacebuilding in Central Mali. Our research aims to understand which women are able to influence communal dynamics regarding peace and security in Mali and assess which identities and relationships women leverage as they seek to influence these dynamics. One of our key findings underscores the obvious: women are not a homogenous demographic; other facets of their identity shape what roles they can play in conflict management and what appeals they can make in doing so. We find compelling evidence that women’s age, lineage, and their position in the home affect their degree of influence. We find that women are adept at leveraging customary governance mechanisms and their interpersonal networks to exercise influence. Overall, our findings point to the importance of an intersectional analysis, as well as a focus on informal and customary avenues of influence when considering women’s involvement in matters of communal peace and security.