MALI

	FY 1998 Actual	FY 1999 Estimate	FY 2000 Request
Development Assistance	$25,100,000	$23,792,000	---
Development Fund for Africa	---	---	$24,200,000
Child Survival and Disease	$12,400,000	$10,702,000	$13,100,000
P.L. 480 Title II	$3,669,000	$422,000	$1,005,000

Introduction.

Mali’s relations with the United States are important to the United States’ interests as a politically and economically sound partner in the West Africa region. Building upon Malian President Konare’s visit to the White House in FY 1998, Mali expanded collaboration with the United States to maximize the advantages of U. S. expertise in education, democratic governance, commercial trade, and business investment. The recent U. S. trade delegation visit demonstrated Mali’s commitment to a vibrant, free and liberalized private sector essential for increased U. S. trade and investment. Mali actively participates in the Leland Initiative, the Africa Food Security Initiative, and the Trade and Investment Initiative in Africa. Support to Mali will strengthen democracy, will increase Mali’s quality of life through better health and family planning practices, will enhance national and regional stability, and will improve Mali's ability to participate in the world economy.

Development Challenge.

Mali is an extremely poor country, not endowed with major natural resources or ample rainfall. Since 1991, the democratically elected Government of the Republic of Mali (GRM) has been implementing forward-looking policies to liberalize the economy and the political system, while expanding programs in education and health. However, Mali’s population growth puts increasing burdens on social services and the economy. Over 60% of Mali’s population are under 25 years of age. Although rapid expansion of access to primary education has occurred, primary education still only reaches 50% of Mali’s children at the primary school level and is even less (40%) for girls. Literacy is only 27% and is much less (15%) for women. Although food deficits have declined, food production has not reached parity with internal needs. Subsistence agriculture is still the norm for 80% of Mali's rural population. The 1999 local elections will expand progress in decentralized decision-making and influential civic actions, which have only begun to take root with local institutions. Processing and marketing improvements have been made, yet still lag behind potential. Access to information through rural radio and the Internet have advanced tremendously, but the needs are still great, with much remaining to be done. Stability in Mali’s northern region is still very tenuous and integration of the northern peoples into a unified Mali is at its early stages.

Through an alliance of political leadership and increasingly coordinated donor assistance, Mali has made impressive progress in democratic governance, in education and health, and the economy. USAID activities through 2002 seek to improve access, demand for and quality of services to help youth become productive citizens; to increase economic growth through investment in major economic subsectors; and to help community organizations work with the GRM to enhance the quality of life. In addition to a cross-cutting special objective to improve access to and facilitate the use of information increases program impact. USAID will extend cross-cutting activities into Mali’s northern region to improve political and social stability, as well as to promote integration of northern ethnic groups into Mali's political, economic and social structures.

The USAID program addresses critical obstacles to increasing the value added by each stage of production, processing and marketing in some of the most important economic subsectors. Overall economic growth for 1998 is about 4.5%, with USAID-supported sectors growing in excess of the 5% per annum target level. Building on this strength, USAID also helped community organizations advocate for improved policies and infrastructure. USAID activities exceeded their targets for community organizations in 1998. By facilitating the use of information resources, e.g. the Internet and community radio, USAID is increasing investment opportunities and capabilities for Malian and international business communities, while increasing access to political, economic and social information needed by Malian decision-makers. In addition to exceeding all targets of access and coverage established for 1998, USAID initiated support in 1998 for five private voluntary organizations working towards economic integration and social parity of the northern region with Mali’s southern regions.

USAID supports expansion of community health services and improved family planning practices. Child survival and reproductive health activities are contributing to reductions in child mortality and decreases in the population growth rate. Under wide donor support, Mali recently initiated a ten-year National Plan for improved health programs. As the major donor in family planning under this plan, USAID is having a direct positive impact, as demonstrated by significant increases in oral contraceptive and condom usage.

The need for more food and consequential environmental pressures are attributable to Mali's rapidly increasing population. USAID supports Malian communities in the agricultural sector to become more efficient and to increase their incomes through greater usage of "best practices" and better natural resources management. Adoption of agricultural "best practices" has grown to 45% in targeted areas. USAID also supports integrated pest management activities while promoting better community management of forests and other natural resources.

In preparation for local elections to be held April 1999, USAID is working with the GRM and local communities to increase participation in the electoral process and improve understanding of the role of citizens with community associations and civic action groups in forming partnerships with the newly-elected local governments. Key activities will strengthen the capacity of local organizations to operate effectively for the benefit of their members.

All of USAID's activities promote human capacity development and all USAID-funded grants and contracts contain significant training components. USAID joined other donors in endorsing the introduction in 1998 of the GRM's new ten-year Education Development Plan. USAID's efforts to establish community-managed and community-financed schools contributed significantly to increased primary school enrollments and appear ahead of targets. USAID's efforts have brought radio coverage to people in Mali who have never had access to regular sources of information. Additionally, the USAID-sponsored Internet expansion and training activities have exceeded targets and are bringing a wealth of information to thousands of Malian decision-makers.

Other Donors in Mali.

Although a sectorial breakdown is not available, bilateral, multilateral and non-governmental organization donors provided an estimated $500 million in assistance to Mali in 1998. While not among the five largest donors, the United States provided about 6% of the total (bilateral aid only). Other major donors (in descending order of importance) include: European Union, France, the World Bank, Japan, UN agencies, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada, Norway, and Switzerland.

FY 2000 Program.

The FY 2000 budget request level is $37,300,000, composed of $13,100,000 for population and health (CS) activities and $24,200,000 for Development Fund for Africa (DFA) activities, and $1,005,000 for P.L. 480 Title II humanitarian assistance. This budget level will allow USAID to continue incremental support for those activities already approved as part of the USAID Mali Country Strategic Plan 1996 - 2002.

MALI

FY 2000 PROGRAM SUMMARY
(in Thousands of Dollars)

USAID Director, James Hradsky

USAID Strategic and Special Objectives	Economic Growth & Agriculture	Population & Health	Environment	Democracy	Human Capacity Development	Humanitarian Assistance	TOTALS
S.O. 1, Improved Social and Economic Behaviors Among Youth - DFA - CS - P.L. 480/II	1,500 --- ---	3,000 6,300 ---	--- --- ---	--- --- ---	--- 5,300 ---	--- --- 1,005	4,500 11,600 1,005
S.O. 2, Sustainable Economic Growth-- Value-added For Specific Subsectors - DFA	7,550	---	4,100	---	150	---	11,800
S.O. 3, Democratic Governance-- Strengthen Community Organizations - DFA	1,000	---	---	2,400	---	---	3,400
S.P. O. 1, Information & Communications -- Improved Access to and Use of Information - DFA	1,000	---	---	---	---	---	1,000
S.P.O. 2, Promote Stability in Northern Mali Through Broad-based Development - DFA - CS	1,500 ---	1,000 1,000	900 ---	100 ---	--- 500	--- ---	3,500 1,500
Totals: - DFA - CS - P.L. 480/II	12,550 --- ---	4,000 7,300 ---	5,000 --- ---	2,500 --- ---	150 5,800 ---	--- --- 1,005	24,200 13,100 1,005

---

ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: MALI
TITLE AND NUMBER: Youth, 688-S001
STATUS: Ongoing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000 $4,500,000 DFA, $11,600,000 CS, $1,005,000 P.L. 480 Title II
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1998; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002

Summary: The activity’s purpose is to improve social and economic behaviors among youth under the age of 25 years and to offer young Malians a clear stake in a stable, progressive Mali by helping them become productive citizens. This will be accomplished through improving national and community interventions in the areas of basic education, child survival, reproductive health, environmental education and job-skills development. USAID seeks two major sets of results with respect to youth: healthier young women and men making responsible decisions about child survival and reproductive health, and better educated young women and men with skills relevant to the market economy.

Key Results: USAID is focused on increasing access to and demand for social services, improving their quality, and improving the capacity of health facilities to provide these services on a sustainable basis. As a result, young parents will be capable of ensuring child survival. There will also be increased gender equity in and expansion of basic and vocational education, contributing to increased incomes for youth and improvement in Mali’s environment.

Performance and Prospects: Mali is making significant progress in improving the quality of life for its citizens. Enrollment in primary education through USAID-supported community schools has increased ten-fold in the last three years, more than doubling in FY 1998. Access to rural health services, partially funded through USAID-supported community health centers, has increased 62% in the last two years. Interventions include:

• expanding and improving training of health staff;
• institutionalizing norms and procedures for child survival and reproductive health;
• attacking high malnutrition in children through programs and policy dialogue;
• establishing skills development programs to provide youth with greater job skills;
• developing community-managed schools;
• helping the Government of Mali to improve management of essential school supplies;
• promoting school health education programs; and
• improving the quality of the Government of Mali's supervision of education and health services delivery.

USAID met all performance targets for 1997 set in the 1996-2002 performance measurement plan. The preliminary data for 1998 affirms that targets noted in the Missions 1996-2002 performance plan will also be met in 1998. Beneficiaries include youth under 25 years of age in selected geographic areas covered by this program. The activity will have major impacts nationally on over six million people.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: No adjustments are foreseen for this program.

Other Donors Programs: USAID is a major donor along with the World Bank, Canada, and UNICEF. Other donors include Japan, the European Union, the Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. The Government of Mali funds all of their personnel provided to donor-supported activities.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: USAID-supported development partners include John Snow International, CARE, the Cooperative League of the United States of America, Save the Children Federation, World Education, Plan International, the Population Council, AFRICARE, the Center for Disease Control, Johns Hopkins University, the Carter Center, the Center for Development and Population Activities, and the Futures Group.

Selected Performance Measures:

Indicators	Baseline	Accomplishments	FY 2000	Target (2002)
Increased couple years of protection (CYP) for modern methods:	118,500 in 1995	136,000 in 1997	213,000	245,000
Increased number of children 0 to 11 months of age receiving immunization doses:	111,700 of 368,000 in 1996	127,000 of 384,000 in 1998	225,000 of 401,500	325,000 of 488,000
Increased percentage of children 7 to 12 years of age enrolled in primary schools:	39% in 1996	50% in 1998	52%	57%
Percentage of population within 15 kms. of child survival delivery sites:	28% in 1996	35% in 1997	55%	65%

---

ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: MALI
TITLE AND NUMBER: Sustainable Economic Growth, 688-S002
STATUS: Ongoing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000 $11,800,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1998; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002

Summary: The activity’s purpose is to increase the value-added or profits of specific economic activities in the cereals, livestock and non-traditional agricultural subsectors. This will be accomplished by increasing access to financial services and boosting Mali's competitiveness in producing, processing and marketing. For each subsector, USAID is supporting interventions that improve private sector marketing policy, stimulate better use of technology, improve job and marketing skills, increase access to both technical and market information, and result in greater access by Malian entrepreneurs to credit.

Key Results: For livestock, USAID supports value-added interventions that improve animal production through feed processing units, encourage the use of cattle by-products, develop product processing units for meat, hides and skins, and increase commercial transport of live animals and meat for local marketing and export. For cereals, USAID supports value-added interventions that improve land tenure policy, promote investments in irrigated production, improve natural resource management practices, develop cereal-based products and promote cereal export. Increasing access to credit and business training and improving market information are fundamental to these efforts. USAID supports improvements in collecting marketing information and effective dissemination of food and agricultural marketing information. For financial services, USAID supports the development of a uniform, transparent regulatory framework, establishment of sustainable micro-finance institutions, and increased access to financial services, increasing levels of savings mobilization and credit. Mali is a target country for the USAID Trade and Investment Initiative in Africa, which is promoting economic policy reforms. For non-traditional products, USAID supports interventions that improve storage and processing for fruits and vegetables, improve access by exporters to market information and help develop new markets and products, leading to a greater diversity in economic activities. USAID's emphasis on the private sector helps stimulate the demand needed to sustain these activities after USAID funding ends.

Performance and Prospects: Mali is making significant progress. Production, processing and marketing of targeted sub-sectors supported by USAID have increased beyond gains in the economy as a whole. These gains are occurring under one of the most democratic regimes in Africa. Mali can serve as an example to all of Africa; through sound policies, implementation of appropriate development strategies, and solid leadership, sustainable advances can be achieved. The program has its greatest impact in rural areas, where 80% of the population lives. It is also helping to increase employment and income in urban areas, particularly by supporting micro-enterprise activities of women and artisans.

USAID met all performance targets for 1997 set in the 1996-2002 performance measurement plan. The preliminary data for 1998 affirms that targets noted in the Missions 1996-2002 performance plan will also be met in 1998.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: No adjustments are foreseen for this program.

Other Donors Programs: France is the largest donor in agriculture and natural resources. Other major donors and international financial institutions include Germany, the Netherlands, the European Union, Denmark, the World Bank, the African Development Bank and Japan. Along with the Government of Mali, several donors jointly manage a cereals marketing reform project, in which USAID is an active player. While donors finance almost all of the investment budget, the Government of Mali funds all its staff associated with these donor projects.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Development partners include: Chemonics, CARE, Cooperative League of the United States of America, Appropriate Technology International, World Education, and Save the Children Federation.

Selected Performance Measures:

Indicators	Baseline	Accomplishments	FY 2000	Target (2002)
Increased livestock value added:	$188 million in 1995	$196 million in 1997	$233 million	$256 million
Increased cereals value added:	$320 million in 1995	$296 million in 1997	$375 million	$414 million
Increased non-traditional agricultural value added:	$130 million in 1995	$134 million in 1997	$154 million	$170 million
Increased savings mobilization:	$165,000 in 1996	$388,000 in 1997	$1,200,000	$1,832,000
Increased amount of loans:	$490,000 in 1996	$590,000 in 1997	$1,651,000	$2,472,000

---

ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: MALI
TITLE AND NUMBER: Democratic Governance, 688-S003
STATUS: Ongoing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000 $3,400,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1998; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002

Summary: The activity’s purpose is to assist community organizations in becoming effective partners in democratic governance in targeted local government entities ("communes"). Effective democratic governance includes empowerment efforts of community organizations by strengthening their capacity for influencing public decision-makers in the planning of development activities. USAID focuses on two major areas of intervention in Mali in which USAID has predominant capability: (1) helping targeted community organizations to engage in democratic governance and civic action primarily at local levels; and (2) helping to put in place an enabling environment that empowers community organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and federations to carry out civic actions and participate in the determination of public decisions.

Key Results: USAID continues to monitor Mali's steps toward decentralization, which is essential to achieving our intended program results. In enhancing the enabling environment supportive of community organizations, USAID provides community organizations with training and technical assistance, and with limited direct support for civic action. Targeted community organizations are receiving this type of democratic governance assistance through private voluntary organizations supported with USAID grants, strengthening institutional capacity of nongovernmental organizations, as well as professional, civil and trade associations.

Performance and Prospects: To ensure sustainability, USAID strengthens the internal democratic governance and ability to take civic actions local non-governmental organizations and federations of local community organizations. USAID is identifying, analyzing and addressing constraints in existing laws, regulations and policies affecting community organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and federations. USAID supports civic education campaigns on decentralization and related reform of laws and policies that affect community organizations. The major beneficiaries are the people involved in community organizations at the village and the district ("commune") levels of local government. By 2002, USAID will reach the people involved in approximately 750 community organizations, located in 175 of Mali's 701 districts ("communes").

USAID met all performance targets for 1997 set in the Mission's 1996-2002 performance measurement plan. The preliminary data for 1998 affirms that targets noted in the Missions 1996-2002 performance plan will also be met in 1998.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: No adjustments are foreseen for this program.

Other Donors Programs: Other donors and international financial institutions include the United Nations Development Program, France, Germany, the European Union, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Canada and the World Bank. The Government of Mali is funding the cost of its personnel and management for the decentralization campaign.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Major USAID-supported development partners include: CARE, the Cooperative League of the United States of America, Save the Children Foundation, and World Education.

Selected Performance Measures:

Indicators	Baseline	Accomplishment	FY 2000	Target (2002)
Percentage of total target community organizations forming good partnerships with local government in services delivery:	21% in 1997	30% in 1998	60%	75%
Percentage of target community organizations expanding development services and activities	38% in 1997	78% in 1998	60%	85%
Percentage of target community organizations pursuing issues with effective civic actions:	38% in 1997	51% in 1998	50%	60%

---

ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: MALI
TITLE AND NUMBER: Information and Communications, 688-SP01
STATUS: Ongoing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000 $1,000,000 DFA
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1998; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002

Summary: The activity’s purpose is to improve access to, and facilitate the use of, information through the Internet and community radio broadcasting. The activity will expand dissemination of existing information by:

• promoting an open and liberal policy in the information and communication sector;
• increasing the number of Malians who obtain and use current development information; and
• enhancing modes of communication.

Key Results: Full access and capacity to utilize information is limited in Mali. Telecommunication systems are underdeveloped, mass media approaches have only just begun to spread throughout the country, literacy rates are low, access to official data is limited, and national libraries do not exist. Malians need rapid access to development information that is useful, well organized, and applicable to their lives. The USAID activity will expand communication of information while selected organizations obtain and use current development information more readily. USAID has undertaken a telecommunications policy analysis that identified no significant constraints to Malians who obtain and use current development information. The Government of Mali encourages a liberal policy on radio broadcasting and freedom of the press, creating a favorable enabling environment for communications and information dissemination.

Performance and Prospects: USAID supports the Government of Mali's encouragement of private sector involvement in the distribution of Internet services. The activity builds on USAID efforts to bring Internet to Mali by helping selected private sector entities that provide on-site Internet access and by developing users' capacity to more fully exploit the Internet's multiple resources. Established at USAID, the Information Resources Center promotes and demonstrates Internet use in solving development problems. It is expected that all levels of Malian civil society will benefit from this program.

USAID provides dissemination and management training to community radio station staff and representatives of the federation of free radio stations. USAID provides selected community radio stations with spare parts and maintenance equipment. To enhance the sustainability of community radio stations, USAID is helping them to develop programming that responds to people's needs.

USAID exceeded all performance targets for 1997 set in the Mission's 1996-2002 performance measurement plan. The preliminary data for 1998 affirms that targets noted in the Missions 1996-2002 performance plan will also be met in 1998.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: No adjustments are foreseen for this program.

Other Donors Programs: Mali has established policies supporting community-owned rural radio stations and is working with USAID to insure that Government of Mali policies promote the use of the Internet and increased access to government information. To expand Internet services, USAID is collaborating with the Canada and other donors, whose efforts focus on financing telecommunications infrastructure to enhance availability nation-wide. In the community radio sector, several donors joined USAID to create an inter-donor coordination committee to ensure positive synergy and to avoid duplication of services.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Development partners are Internet service providers and local private voluntary organizations.

Selected Performance Measures:

Indicators	Baseline	Accomplishments	FY 2000	Target (2002)
Improved community radio coverage by numbers of radio stations:	46 in 1996	77 in 1998	85	100
Improved access to information through information service provider firms:	0 in 1996	4 in 1998	8	10
Increased numbers of Internet users:	0 in 1996	2,000 in 1998	2,500	3,500

---

ACTIVITY DATA SHEET

PROGRAM: MALI
TITLE AND NUMBER: Development in the North, 688-SP02
STATUS: Ongoing
PROPOSED OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: FY 2000 $3,500,000 DFA, $1,500,000 CS
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1998; ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2002

Summary: The activity’s purpose is to support the peoples of Mali’s northern regions to acquire the capacity and confidence for promoting stability through broad-based and sustainable local development. This will strengthen civil society's ability to operate as an effective partner with government in planning and decision-making, increase economic activity and income, and increase availability and access to basic social services. The stability of Mali and the northern regions is dependent on the reintegration of the citizens of the northern regions as productive elements of a unified Malian civil society. This reintegration is important to U.S. interests of peace and economic development in Mali and the West Africa region.

Key Results: Mali's three northern regions, composed of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal, make up two-thirds of Mali's geographic dimensions, but only ten percent of Mali’s population. A harsh climate, shortage of water, high transport costs, limited resources, lack of infrastructure, and few basic social services result in poor agricultural productivity and limited economic activity. The rebellion of 1990-1995 curtailed development and displaced thousands of people, decreasing the already low standard of living. For sustainable development to occur, the people of northern Mali must be committed to and capable of participating in the political, social and economic development of the three regions.

Performance and Prospects: In collaborative efforts with other donors, USAID is developing the capacity and confidence in the people of northern Mali to undertake broad-based and sustainable local development. Efforts concentrate on:

• helping civil society become an effective partner with central and local government in development planning and decision-making;
• ensuring that economic activity and income from productive sectors are increased significantly; and
• assuring that availability of and access to basic social services (education and health) approach parity with Mali’s southern regions. Activities include: (a) management training of community organizations, associations, government officials and elected representatives; (b) improvement in small irrigation, livestock, micro-finance, and environmental protection; and (c) development of community schools, community health centers, and potable water resources for humans and livestock.

As the major beneficiary, the general population of the three northern regions (over 1 million residents) will benefit from enhanced stability and improvements in their quality of life.

Possible Adjustments to Plans: Pending a response to a Mission request for additional overall program funding, program adjustments could be needed to clarify the additional activities to be supported.

Other Donors Programs: A close partnership with Malian governmental bodies is essential for success, as is the people's confidence in the commitment of their government to the affected community's well being. Locally elected bodies, the key ministries of health, basic education, and agriculture will all be participants in this Program. Collaboration and close coordination with other donors, especially the World Food Program, UNDP, UNICEF and bilateral organizations active in northern Mali, are already underway.

Principal Contractors, Grantees or Agencies: Major USAID-supported development partners include: AFRICARE, the Islamic African Relief Association, Action Against Hunger, World Vision, and CARE.

Selected Performance Measures:
Specific performance targets and indicators of progress for the new program are being identified. At this stage, expected results are:

Indicators
Civil society participating effectively with government in planning and decision-making (perhaps measured by voter participation levels).
Economic activity and income growth enhancing growth in local domestic product and average income.
Basic social services (health center and school coverage) providing services at or near parity with those provided in Mali’s southern regions.

:  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  :  What's New : FOIA Requests : Privacy Policy : Email This Page : Plug-ins : FAQs : Help Desk : Contact Us : Site Map Last Updated on: July 14, 1999