Yaya Kone
Bamako,Mali
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience in project management and stakeholder engagement, notably at The International Republican Institute. Proven track record in designing impactful youth-led initiatives to combat violent extremism in the Sahel. Skilled in qualitative research and building relationships, driving sustainable peace and social cohesion across diverse communities.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Adviser of the iDove Africa Regional Group
Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism (iDove)
02.2017 - Current
- Generate the critical knowledge needed to develop more effective and context-specific strategies for the youth and the preventing violent extremism and fostering durable social cohesion in Africa.
- Inform iDove Africa steering Committee on the national and regional security policies on youth and violent extremism.
- Guide and assist the design and drafting of youth-led peacebuilding initiatives in West Africa and Sahel countries.
- Enhance the capacity of the new iDovers to analyze and respond to threats of extremism.
- Participate in organizing training and/or forum on youth-led effective responses to prevent violent extremism.
- Participate in the planning and the organization of the iDove International Youth Forum (IYF).
Regional Program Officer – Sahel Region
The International Republican Institute (IRI)
Bamako
12.2021 - 04.2025
- Responsible for the design, planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation and reporting of the Sahel regional program on the prevention of violent extremism and radicalization in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania, and Chad.
- Contribute to data survey, qualitative and quantitative research designing and implementation on the root causes of the conflicts and the prevention of violent extremism in Sahel.
- Provide updates on the critical nexus of security, development, and humanitarian action to contribute to a deeper understanding of the drivers of conflict and the pathways to sustainable peace and stability in Sahel and the affected West Africa Littoral States.
- Identify and recruit Civil Society organization including youth leaders and/or youth organization and women organizations partners in each Sahel country.
- Plan and organize the online and/or onsite capacity building training workshop on youth and the prevention of violent extremism, leadership, economic empowerment, etc. in the Sahel countries.
- Organize advocacy sessions with the Sahel governments officials on security policies adopted at the regional and/or national level to facilitate their implementation in key cross-border communities, with a focus on the participation of youth, women and vulnerable communities.
- Provide grant and oversee the IRI’s youth leaders and local partners project’s activities implementation across the Sahel regions.
- Maintain credibility and good communication with relevant stakeholders, including youth leaders and civil society actors, financial partners, government representatives, international and consortium partners.
- Monitor, analyze, and report on political and security developments in the Sahel region to provide regional and national analysis and external communication.
- Participate in the design and drafting of new projects and contribute to the business development initiatives on peace and stability, social cohesion and the prevention of violent extremism.
- Promote dialogue, trust, and resilience within and between communities for stability and development in the Sahel.
- Selected list of the regional projects implemented under my responsibilities:
- Sahel Regional: Building the Capacities of the Sahel regional Youth Council to Improve Resilience to Social and Economic Factors of Extremist Narrative. (Core 2020 – 2021).
- Littoral Project: Harmonizing Littoral West Africa Policy and Practice to Prevent Violent Extremism. Beneficiary Countries: Benin, Cote D’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso (Core 2020 -2023).
- Sahel Regional: Strengthening and Institutionalizing Youth Leadership to Build Social and Economic Resilience in the Sahel. (Core 2021 -2022).
- Sahel Regional: Strengthening the Efficacy of Regional Youth-led Peacebuilding Interventions to Reduce Youth Political Marginalization. (Core 2022 -2023).
- Sahel Regional: Strengthening Data-driven Peacebuilding Interventions to Increase Regional and National Responsiveness to Sahelian Community Priorities. (2023-2024).
- Sahel Regional: Strengthening the Engagement and Collaboration between Women and Youth in the Sahel to Increase the Efficacy of P/CVE Interventions. (Core 2024 - 2025).
Regional Program Assistant – Sahel Region
The International Republican Institute (IRI)
Bamako
12.2020 - 11.2021
- Assist the field team of the office programmatic, administrative, fiscal, and logistical operations; Participate in the implementation of IRI projects/program in the Sahel, including regional projects and in country specific projects in Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Chad, and Burkina.
- Assist and support the Program Director (PD) and Resident Program Officer (RPO) in all aspects of program implementation.
- Under supervision, manage daily administrative and logistical tasks related to day-to-day operations and support the Sahel Portfolio in the design and implementation of seminars, workshops, and meetings.
- Perform data collection, entry, cleaning, and analysis functions and database management to support the monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) activities of the IRI Sahel office and assist the team in identifying expected results and developing benchmarks and indicators to track changes and measure progress during project implementation.
- Prepare weekly project reports and provide written reports on the political and security situation of the Sahel and contribute to the data analysis for external communication.
- Provide written and oral translation of partner documents and deliverables (French English or English French) as needed and develop and maintains good relationships between IRI and its partners; Maintain regular communication with program team and finance staff in Washington, D.C., and performs other tasks assigned by the office.
Program Assistant
Women in Law and Development in Africa, WILDAF
Bamako
01.2019 - 11.2020
- Projects/programs implemented:
- Project on Gender-Based Violence (GBV);
- Project to combat child marriage and empower women.
- Project to improve sexual and reproductive health.
- Women's Peace and Security Programming under the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 initiative, and the 'Circle of Peace' initiative.
- Project on Women’s Leadership and Inclusive Governance and Democracy.
- Projects on the humanitarian support of the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) especially women and children, etc.
Research Assistant
The Institute for Research and Promotion of Alternatives in Development, IRPAD/Africa
Bamako
10.2011 - 12.2014
- Assist IRPAD/Africa Research Team on the project research entitled ‘Local community development studies’.
- The project aimed to promote community participation in the research, analysis, design and implementation of solutions responding to their needs and strengthening communities' capacities for analysis and action for an inclusive decentralization and local development.
Education
Master’s Degree - International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid
Kalu Institute
Madrid, Spain06-2025
Master's Degree - Sociology
University of Osmania
Hyderabad, India01.2018
Bachelor's Degree -
University Mandé Bukari
Bamako, Mali01.2014
Bachelor's Degree - Anthropology
University of Bamako
Mali01.2012
Skills
- Project/Program Management skills
- Quality Management
- Results Orientation
- Portfolio Management
- Time and resource management
- Qualitative and Quantitative research experience
- Building Relationships
- Passion for Excellence
- Problem Solving skills
- Vendor Management
- Global trends and challenges in the specific sector
- IT skills, especially in Project/Program Management
- Cross-functional coordination
- Stakeholder management
- Group facilitation
- Training and mentoring
- Risk assessment
Languages
Bamabara/Dioula
First Language
French
Proficient (C2)
C2
English
Proficient (C2)
C2
Skills Development Workshops
- 10/03/19, Participation in the training workshop for women leaders in conflict resolution and the fight against radicalization in cross-border areas of the Sahel countries, organized by UN Women and the G5 Sahel Women's Platform (PF-G5S) in Bamako, Mali.
- 08/20/19, Participation in the sub-regional training workshop on 'The Civil Society Development Initiative in the Context of Civilian -Military Collaboration for Peace and Security in the Sahel' organized by the American international NGO Strategic Capacity Group (SCG) in Niamey, Niger.
- 06/24/19, Participation in the Regional Workshop on 'Collaboration in peace and security sector between Women, Youth and Defense and Security Forces organized by the Centre for the Research and Higher Studies on Security in Dakar, Senegal.
- 02/01/19, Local consultant Researcher for the research on the impact on the Malian economy the purchases (goods and services) made by UN Peacekeeping Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and its procurement system in Mali, led by GRIP (Group for Research and Information on Peace and Security), Belgium.
- 10/03/17, Participation in the Training of Trainers (ToT) on Youth and Peacebuilding organized by Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development in collaboration with UNFPA Asia & the Pacific, UNOY and Youth for Peace International (YPI), Chandigarh, India.
Timeline
Regional Program Officer – Sahel Region
The International Republican Institute (IRI)
12.2021 - 04.2025
Regional Program Assistant – Sahel Region
The International Republican Institute (IRI)
12.2020 - 11.2021
Program Assistant
Women in Law and Development in Africa, WILDAF
01.2019 - 11.2020
Adviser of the iDove Africa Regional Group
Interfaith Dialogue on Violent Extremism (iDove)
02.2017 - Current
Research Assistant
The Institute for Research and Promotion of Alternatives in Development, IRPAD/Africa
10.2011 - 12.2014
Master’s Degree - International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid
Kalu Institute
Master's Degree - Sociology
University of Osmania
Bachelor's Degree -
University Mandé Bukari
Bachelor's Degree - Anthropology
University of Bamako
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