Mali

Mali is a landlocked country that was under French rule from 1883 to 1960. The northern third of Mali lies in the Sahara, while the central region is made up of pasture and croplands irrigated by the Niger River. The harsh climate in Mali led to chronic droughts in the 1970s and 1980s and the inadequate supply of clean, safe water remains a serious problem affecting many communities.

According to the United Nations’ Human Development Index, it is the fourth poorest country in the world with 72% of the population living on less than $1 a day. Unfair trade regulations, which restricts access to international markets especially for cotton traders, and a chronic foreign trade deficit, continue to hamper economic development; this has resulted in a heavy dependence on foreign aid. However Mali has been politically stable and peaceful since 1992 when the democratic civilian government came to power.

Mali is a ‘young country’ with over half its population under 18 years old, which poses certain challenges for the future. There is a real need to improve the young child survival rate and for improved access to quality education, especially for girls.

Some of the reasons Plan works in Mali

• Nearly 25% all children die before reaching the age of five
• Over one third of children under five suffer from stunted growth due to poor nutrition
• 60% of all children do not attend primary school
• 75% of the rural population does not have access to adequate drinking water