Mali

Context

Mali is located in the Sahelian area in West Africa. The country is landlocked with an estimated population of about 20.2 million, 60% of whom live in rural areas. Fifty-one percent of Mali's population is female and a high proportion of young people under the age of 25 (65%). Life expectancy in Mali is 58.90 years (2018). 

Since 2012, Mali has been going through a complex multifaceted crisis that has plunged millions of inhabitants into extremely fragile humanitarian conditions.The Malian context remains dominated by a combination of shocks characterized by violence, insecurity, and political instability that have led to a gap in access to basic social services, exacerbating vulnerabilities and inequalities. Mali relies heavily on agriculture and livestock production yet is not always able to ensure food security for the entire population and to provide significant income to the farmers who make up most of the Malian workforce.
In 2022, the country is facing one of the worst food and nutrition crises in a decade, placing 1.2 million people in a severe food crisis with a heavier impact on women and children aged 6-59 months.

Oxfam in Mali

Oxfam has been working in Mali since 1995 and we focus our efforts in areas of greatest and most urgent need. Oxfam has developed a strong community base over the years. 
A detailed analysis of the country context enabled the identification of strategic priorities for 2021-2023, which are framed around three change objectives: 

1. Strengthened humanitarian action through a support to vulnerable people and communities exposed to conflicts and disasters before, during and after crises
2. Accountable governance through strengthening inclusive and accountable governance systems that ensure human rights and climate justice
3. Just economies through advocating for equal access to fair and sustainable economic systems for vulnerable and marginalized populations, with a focus on women and youth. 

By 2023, OXFAM's vision is "A peaceful Mali where inequalities and social injustices are reduced and where all citizens exercise and enjoy their full rights.

Reinforcing our Humanitarian Action

Oxfam in Mali supports vulnerable communities at risk of conflict and natural disasters.

This involves providing rapid and equitable assistance to people affected by the crisis in order to cover their basic needs, while guaranteeing respect for humanitarian standards and working in collaboration with other actors in the humanitarian field as well as the national authorities.

Also, local expertise and dynamism are promoted in the context of access to basic social services and the development of community resilience.

The humanitarian action proposed by Oxfam in Mali enables the improvement of the coverage of humanitarian needs and contributes to the achievement of food needs through the distribution of conditional and unconditional CASH, the support to market gardening and the distribution of small ruminants.

This action aims to assist deprived populations towards strengthening a sustainable exit from the crisis, to promote resilience, development opportunities, as well as social change.

Oxfam in Mali is facilitating also access to agricultural inputs for internally displaced persons (IDPs)/privileged people so that they can meet their food and nutritional needs. Oxfam also supports communities in creating temporary jobs that enable economic recovery for many households, particularly women, by facilitating access to community-based savings and credit methods.

Strengthening accountable and inclusive governance systems

Oxfam in Mali prioritizes capacity building and support for Malian civil society organizations, particularly women's and youth rights organizations.

People with disabilities, women vulnerable to abuse and/or exploitation and violence, vulnerable youth and elderly are the primary targets.

The participation of citizens and political parties is essential to improve governance, and this must be achieved through better participation and inclusion of the most marginalized as well as efforts to strengthen citizenship and civic engagement. It is therefore crucial to contribute to the restoration and strengthening of the social contract between public/local officials and citizens through inclusive and accountable governance of public affairs.

Building equitable economic systems

Since 2003, Oxfam in Mali has been committed to supporting rural producers by strengthening their power in markets and sustainable value chains with programs that support small-scale rural farmers, especially women.

Oxfam in Mali focuses on collective action and capacity building in the production, processing and marketing of agricultural products. With the support of technical partners, Oxfam implements programs to create a solid dynamic for the inclusion of small-scale producers around resilient, environmentally friendly value chains that contribute to self-sufficiency and sustainable food and nutrition security in Mali. Support is provided at all stages of the value chain, through vocational training and the creation of a more supportive social and political environment.

Contact Oxfam in Mali