Where We Work | Africa | Mali
Mali
Mali, like its West African neighbors, ranks among the world’s poorest countries. Mali is faced with such environmental threats as drought and desertification—particularly devastating as a vast majority of the population consists of rural farmers dependent on rain-fed agriculture. Mali is one of Africa’s most successful democracies, but it is heavily dependent on foreign aid and faces such enormous challenges as high levels of illiteracy and gender inequality. Mali’s situation is aggravated by the fact that world market prices for its chief exports, raw agricultural products such as cotton, have fallen steadily in recent years. These factors and others contribute to Mali’s perennial poverty. Every year children suffer from severe malnutrition and die of preventable diseases.
Rural Malians face considerable challenges. HIV/AIDS infection rates are increasing. The lack of income-generating opportunities causes many to seek employment in the cities. Contaminated water and food shortages are at the heart of many of rural Mali’s problems. In some regions of Mali, less than five percent of the population has access to an improved water source. When children are weak or ill from poor water quality or malnutrition, they cannot attend school; similarly-affected farmers cannot go to the fields to produce food.
In spite of its problems, Mali is well-known for its commitment to democracy and its openness to economic integration in West Africa. In recent years, the Malian government has made moves to decentralize—shifting resources and responsibilities from the national government to local village governments and allowing for the emergence of village associations and other forms of civic engagement. These changes highlight the need for improved literacy and gender equality.
OUR HISTORY IN Mali
Lutheran World Relief (LWR) first established an office in Mali when we expanded our work in West Africa from food crisis response in Niger to include more countries that faced similar long-term problems with drought and food security. LWR has expanded its focus in Mali to include emphasis on risk-management and HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation of its socioeconomic impacts on the poor.
LWR WORKS WITH LOCAL PARTNERS
To create sustainable rural livelihoods by:
- Training community members in soil conservation, proper maintenance, and crop diversification (to include rice, beans, and nontraditional crops such as shallots and sesame) to increase food production and improve nutrition;
- Providing access to safe drinking water through the construction of wells and other improved water sources;
- Creating income-generating opportunities through microcredit programs and the establishment of markets where farmers can sell their produce for profit.
To build peace and justice by:
- Empowering local communities through the creation of literacy centers and training in conflict management and advocacy.
ACCOMPANIMENT: HOW WE WORK
Lutheran World Relief believes working with local partners is the key to lasting changes that end poverty and bring justice. We work together with trust, respect and accountability in order to most effectively serve those for whom we work.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
