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West Africa

Report

Countering Violent Extremism in Nigeria: Using a Text-Message Survey to Assess Radio Programs

The authors present the results of a text message–based randomized controlled trial designed to assess the impact of a countering violent extremism (CVE)–themed radio program broadcast in northern Nigeria in 2018–2019.

Mar 12, 2020
Commentary

Family Matters: More of the Same in Togo

Faure Gnassingbe was reelected in February to a fourth term as president of Togo. The result was no surprise. Due to the stacked system he and his father built, Faure is likely to rule until 2030 or beyond.

Mar 6, 2020
Commentary

More Engagement in West Africa Could Blunt Looming Crisis

There is a very real possibility that the security crisis afflicting Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will spread to the countries of the West African coastal region. Early action including security-sector support could be the key to staving off worst-case scenarios.

Feb 25, 2020
Blog

Iran, Mental Health and Jail, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on Iran and Iraq following the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, supporting those experiencing mental illness in jails, Russia's hostile measures, and more.

Jan 10, 2020
Journal Article

Exploring the Use of a General Equilibrium Method to Assess the Value of a Malaria Vaccine: An Application to Ghana

A general equilibrium method was used to quantify the potential impact of a malaria vaccination on the wider economy, using Ghana as an example. Results suggest investing in improving childhood health by vaccinating could have macroeconomic benefits.

Jan 9, 2020
Commentary

Abandoning West Africa Carries Risks for U.S.

News that the U.S. Department of Defense is contemplating a major drawdown in West Africa comes as the region is in crisis. For Americans, the Sahel crisis raises a fundamental question: Beyond basic humanitarian concern, if the Sahel falls apart, why should Americans care?

Jan 3, 2020
Journal Article

Healthcare at the Beginning of Life and Child Survival: Evidence from a Cash Transfer Experiment in Nigeria

We study the effects of a cash transfer program in Nigeria in which households were offered a payment of $14 conditioned on uptake of health services.

Dec 20, 2019
Commentary

Mali Violence Shows Limits of Intervention

Each year brings more violence to Mali and its neighbors. Mali and Burkina Faso are rapidly destabilizing; the situation in Niger is less dire, but that is hardly a commendation. Why is the violence in Mali getting worse given the significant efforts by the international community to stem it?

Nov 22, 2019
Journal Article

Disaster Risk Reduction Is Not 'Everyone's Business': Evidence from Three Countries

The author examines disaster risk reduction (DRR) by answering the following questions: Who are the main types of actors involved in DRR in different countries, how do they work together, and how much variation is there between countries?

Nov 5, 2019
Dissertation

Three Essays on Health Financing in Sub-Saharan Africa: Health Shocks, Health Insurance Uptake, and Financial Risk Protection

Series of three essays on health financing in Sub-Saharan Africa using quantitative and comparative case study methods.

Apr 12, 2019
Report

An evaluation of Dance4Life's social franchising and empowerment models

Dance4Life, an international NGO working with young people on health and promotion of safe sexual choices, asked RAND Europe to conduct a process evaluation of the NGO's new implementation and social franchising pilots.

Nov 20, 2018
Report

Overcoming Challenges Arising from the Creation of National Security Councils: A Framework and Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa

This report for the Malian government explores the challenges in setting up a national security council. The author creates a theoretical framework for effectiveness, applies it to case studies, and presents suggestions for overcoming challenges.

Nov 5, 2018
Journal Article

Health Care at Birth and Infant Mortality: Evidence from Nighttime Deliveries in Nigeria

Ensuring that Nigerian women giving birth have access to health facilities will likely reduce infant mortality.

Dec 29, 2017
Dissertation

Labor Market Outcomes of Youth and Women in Newly Industrialized and Developing Countries

This dissertation examines the effects of exogenous shocks and labor market policies on employment, wages, and human capital development of youth and women.

Dec 4, 2017
Commentary

Mali Is France's Afghanistan, but with a Difference

At first glance the comparison between the French military operations in Mali and America’s involvement in Afghanistan is compelling, and in some important ways, accurate. It also presents some fundamental differences that give reason for optimism in France.

Dec 1, 2017
Commentary

Why Africa Could Provide an 'ISIS Renaissance'

ISIS has been one of the most formidable and well-organized terrorist groups in history and it would be naive to assume that ISIS will simply cease operations in the face of recent losses. More likely, the group, along with its many followers, will attempt to disperse to a new base, and parts of Africa are likely targets for a new caliphate.

Nov 15, 2017
Commentary

What Is the Sahel G5 Force and Why Should the U.S. Support It?

The French Joint Force G-5 Sahel plan offers the possibility of strengthening the Sahel nations' efforts to combat terrorism. Supporting the French initiative is a worthy undertaking, provided, of course, that everyone understands what it is and is not.

Nov 6, 2017
Commentary

The Real Questions We Should Be Asking About Niger

In the wake of the deaths of four U.S. servicemen in Niger, Americans are embroiled in a pointless political squabble. The focus should be on developing a greater understanding of the risks and benefits of U.S. counterterrorism operations abroad.

Oct 30, 2017
Commentary

U.S. Helping Niger Halt Spread of Terror in Region

Niger is at the epicenter of the war on terror, with local and regional violent groups based there and entering the country from nearly every side. U.S. troops are there to train Niger's security services — not to fight. They are also assisting French forces who are fighting there.

Oct 25, 2017
Report

Armies Have a Role to Play in Nation Building

Events in Iraq and Mali have raised questions about the value of Security Force Assistance and U.S. capacity to strengthen client states' militaries in the face of insurgencies or other threats. History shows that SFA programs could be improved if they focused more on ideology and how an army complements a host country's larger nation-building efforts.

Oct 24, 2017

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RAND Topic:
West Africa

Topic Synonyms:
Western Africa

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Stephanie Pezard

Senior Political Scientist and Associate Research Department Director for Defense and Political Sciences (DPS)

Stephanie Pezard is a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation. Her research focuses on Arctic security; strategic competition; European security and transatlantic relations; measures short of war; security cooperation and security force assistance; deterrence and use of force; and…
Oluwatimilehin Sotubo

Ph.D. Student, Pardee RAND Graduate School, and Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Oluwatimilehin Sotubo is a Ph.D. student in the Research, Analysis, and Design stream at Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy analyst at RAND. He has an M.Sc in economics and finance from University of Bath and a B.Sc. in economics from Crawford University. His research interests…

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