Africare-Mali

Africare's History in Mali

Africare formerly established its presence in Mali in 1974; since that time, projects have been implemented in all parts of the country. During the past 20 years, Africare has implemented a large number of activities in the “Mali Nord” region of Timbuktu, including support to small-scale farmers and artisans, natural resource management, community health programs, integrated food security and micro-finance development. Other activities in the central region of Ségou have focused on child survival and an integrated health and education program. In all of its programs, Africare has developed strong working partnerships with national NGO’s and associations, in addition to supporting technical service provision of the Malian government. One common aspect of the programs implemented by Africare have been providing support to the more isolated areas of the regions being targeted, including villages in the desert part of Timbuktu region, populated primarily by semi-nomadic ethnic groups. Africare has been successful in its programs in large part due to the cadre of national professional staff that have supported these efforts, often working in their own communities for many years. Another common tenant of Africare’s outreach in Mali has been to incorporate local knowledge into the technical packages being promoted.

Africare-Mali Today

Currently Africare Mali provides assistance in three donor funded initiatives, two of the projects focus on agriculture and food security, and the third project aims in increase access to potable water and sanitation. The agriculture and food security projects target vulnerable populations plagued by chronic food insecurity as a result of recessional agriculture and pastoral livelihood systems. The Potable Water Project targets primary school pupils who have no safe drinking water, nor access to latrines, causing them to travel long distance in search of drinking water and toilet facilities. The project aims to increase their participation in the education process, and reduce their exposure to water-borne diseases and infections due to poor sanitation.

 

Country Profile: Mali

REGION: West Africa
CAPITAL CITY: Bamako
POPULATION: 13,796,354
LAND AREA: 1,220,190 sq km (758,191 sq miles)

Although Mali is one of the world's poorest countries — the fifth least-developed, according to the U.N. Development Program's 2007/2008 Human Development Index — it enjoys food self-sufficiency and, since 1992, a relatively stable, democratic government. Most of the farming, which occupies 80 percent of the population, takes place in the fertile Niger River basin. Otherwise, less than 4 percent of the land is arable, while 65 percent of the land is either desert or semidesert, astride the Sahara. A 10th of the people are nomads, who move with their livestock herds throughout those arid lands. Long prone to drought, Mali suffers from deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, water shortage and high rates of preventable disease. Its principal exports are cotton and gold.
           

Country Stats Life expectancy: 53.1 years (USA: 77.9) Under-5 child mortality: 217/1,000 live births (USA: 7/1,000) HIV prevalence, ages 15-49: [1.2 - 1.8]% (USA: [0.4 - 1.0]%) Physicians per 100,000 people: 8 (USA: 256) People undernourished: 29% (USA: 0%) People with access to safe drinking water: 50% (USA: 100%) Adult literacy: 24% (USA: 99%) Gross National Income per Capita : $1,033 (USA: $41,890) People living on less than $1 a day: 36.1% (USA: 0%) (HIV prevalence statistics, UNAIDS. All other statistics, 2007/2008 Human Development Report, UNDP)

 

(Updated, June 2010)