Poverty in Mali

Malian girls in Douentza © Dan Gerber

Mali remains consistently mired near the bottom of UNDP's Human Development Index (2007 ranking is 173 out of 177) and there are numerous natural and man-made problems. 64% of the population lives below the national poverty line, a figure which has reduced little since the 1990 baseline year for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Primary school enrolment has been increasing, with the government reporting the number of classrooms rising by almost 50% between 2002 and 2007. Even with this progress, however, only half of all primary school-aged children are enrolled and adult literacy is classified as below 30%. Compounding problems in the education sector are periodic strikes by students and teachers and overall poor standards of instruction.

Mali vegetable vendor © Dan Gerber

A 2004 Government and UNDP report held little prospect of achieving the MDGs by 2015, though there has been significant progress on food self-sufficiency, universal primary education and access to potable water. Despite what most would declare a gloomy picture, there has been real progress since 1991. This is due to better, though certainly not perfect, governance. Problems in this area remain - such as widespread corruption and political parties being more concerned with personalities than policies.

Decentralization and empowerment of local people holds out the best hope. Fairer terms of trade for Mali's export crops and more development assistance to help Malians address health, education, food and water problems are necessary conditions for meaningful progress to be achieved. An MDG "needs assessment" published in 2007 puts a price of $130 pa per capita for achievement of the Goals by 2015, of which almost 50% would be required as foreign aid.

Health and HIV/AIDS in Mali

Woman carrying water in Mali © United Nations Development Programme

Mali's HIV/AIDS prevalence is comparatively low for sub-Saharan Africa, currently at 1.3% according to the 2006 Demographics and Health Survey (DHS). However, with a poor health care system, widespread poverty and prevalence of other diseases that weaken resistance, HIV/AIDS is a looming and significant threat. Fortunately the government is taking HIV/AIDS seriously and is committed to training health workers and providing free ARVs.

Health problems abound in Mali, where overall life expectancy at birth is about 53 years. Malaria is endemic and is the reason for 33% of medical consultations and 13% of all mortality. Lack of vaccinations, poor nutrition, diarrhoeal diseases and other poor conditions contribute to extremely high rates of infant mortality - the reduction to 96 in 2006 from 123 in 1990 is too slow to achieve the MDG target of 41 deaths per 1000 births. Maternal and reproductive health is a significant issue; women who go through pregnancy, child birth or have postnatal complications have a 1-in-16 chance of dying. Meningitis, hepatitis, cholera, schistosomiasis, tuberculosis and onchocerciasis (river blindness) are among other prevalent diseases.

Malian women © Dan Gerber

The Malian population is thus faced with numerous health concerns while having limited access to modern care. There are limited numbers of trained doctors and nurses and, in many areas, facilities are isolated (40% of the population lives more than 15 kilometers from a health facility). Efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases have been put in place by the government and donor agencies, but the range and depth of the integrated and self-reinforcing problems in the economic, health, social and education spheres make solving any one problem difficult.
Food Security in Mali

Mangoes for sale in Mali © Dan Gerber

Agriculture is the basis of the Malian economy with over 70% of the working population employed in agriculture and contributing 40% of the GDP. The majority are subsistence farmers (growing millet, rice, sorghum and corn) or, for nomadic populations, herders (tending cattle, goats and sheep). Commercial crops include cotton, peanuts, sugar, tobacco and vegetables. With most crops and animals dependent on rain, drought and/or locusts can greatly impact production and bring suffering as occurred in 2004-2005. However, preliminary estimates by the government for the 2007-2008 agricultural campaign indicate a 11% larger cereal crop than the preceding 5 year average. The government is also now backing public-private-partnerships to develop home-grown agricultural research efforts to address Mali's needs.
The Economy in Mali

Malian per capita income is approximately what it was two decades ago but, after a significant decline, has been growing in recent years (economic growth averaged 5.3% pa from 2003 to 2006). Overseas remittances play an increasingly important role in the economy, now totalling about $200 million per annum, providing half of the country's foreign currency earnings.

Sorting cotton in Mali © Betty Press/Panos

Mali (with several other African countries) has taken a leadership role in highlighting the problems that farmers from the Sahel have with unfair trade cotton subsidies and policies imposed by the EU and US. In 2002, the US government provided $3.4 billion in subsidies to American cotton farmers - a sum nearly twice as large as all US foreign aid to Africa. Oxfam estimates that Mali, together with 3 neighbouring countries, has lost $450 million in foreign currency since 2004 as a direct result of these subsidies. The World Trade Organisation has recently ruled in favor of the African cotton farmers though subsidy removal has yet to be enacted as US policy. Agreement to privatize the Malian cotton industry was reached in April 2008 but this by itself is unlikely to be an adequate solution to the sector’s problems.

Radio Jamana in Timbuktu © Dan Gerber

Industry is limited - making up a fifth of GDP - and features food processing, textiles, cigarettes, light manufacturing, plastics and bottling. Oil is currently being explored in the north. Already, Mali has the third largest gold mining industry in Africa although the impact of gold and oil exploration is questionable since these industries do not always bring positive developmental impact on local communities and all too often value-added processing is done elsewhere. In 2008 Oxfam launched an effort to establish a new mining code in West Africa to achieve a better balance between the interests of mining companies and host countries.
Climate Change

Urban waste in Mali © Dan Gerber

Desertification caused by centuries-old climate change (the Sahara was once green) and by contemporary global climate change has greatly afflicted Mali. An increasing population puts greater pressure on the environment from increased demand for water and firewood, and overuse of marginal lands. Certain measures - such as introduction of bore-hole wells and animal vaccination - have also been blamed for increasing herds and adding additional impact on the fragile eco-system. With 50% of the population without sustainable access to an improved water source, pressure on the environment will continue.

Due to poverty, there is little that does not go recycled or is not used for its entire life. Due to poverty as well, however, there is limited infrastructure for processing environmental waste or even for funding basic services such as trash collection.



The OneWorld Mali Guide was first published in October 2005 with a text written by Volunteer Editor Dan Gerber.

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