USAID’s Bureau for Africa started programming under the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP) in 2006 as the risk of terrorism became a growing concern on the continent. QED, as a subcontractor to Amex International, undertook a month-long trip to the Sahel region of Africa to evaluate progress under the Partnership.

The 2010-2011 mixed-method, quasi-experimental design evaluation explored the success of the TSCTP in changing attitudes. The analysis showed that treatment populations in Mali, Niger and Chad, where TSCTP programming was present, exhibited attitudes and views less conducive to violent extremism than comparison populations in areas where less TSCTP programming had been present. 

The results were particularly striking regarding the perception of youth and listenership to TSCTP-sponsored radio with peace messaging: respondents were more likely to listen to peace and tolerance radio and believe in the efficacy of youth associations in treatment areas. 

The QED team also analyzed the scope of monitoring and evaluation within TSCTP and designed a results framework to measure results of counter-extremism programs.  The evaluation was featured at the U.S. Department of State Evaluation Conference in June 2011.