CRWRC has been working in Mali since 1984. The people in Mali are among the poorest in the world, with the country suffering from chronic drought, poor economic infrastructure, and weak government services in education and health. In rural Mali, CRWRC is working alongside the Fulbe people group (also known as the Fulani). The Fulbe are a group of cattle herders and farmers. CRWRC also partners with three organizations in Mali to help individuals, families, and communities improve their health, income, and standard of living. For a list of partners and specific programs, see below.
Fast Facts
Population: 12,666,987 (July 2009 est.)
Area Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Literacy rate: 46.4% (2003 estimate)
Life expectancy: 50.35 years (2009 estimate)
Population below poverty line: 36% (2005 est.)
Gross Domestic Product per capita: $1,200 (2008 est.)
Languages: French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages
(From the World Factbook. Click here for more information on Mali.)
Partners
Mali-Fulbe
The Fulbe people group, also known as the Fulani, is a group of cattle herders and farmers. After almost 20 years of CRWRC work, Fulbe villages maintain a number of programs on their own including child vaccinations and wood-conserving stoves. At the same time, CRWRC helped women get cotton-spinning equipment to increase their income. In addition, about 100 Fulbe villages, scattered throughout Mali, have begun box libraries because they have seen the impact that literacy can have on their lives. These libraries include many booklets for beginning readers. Some very popular titles are: “AIDS Destroys Homes,” “Let’s Keep Our Children Healthy,” “What you want to know about Pregnancy and Childbirth,” “Malian Laws Affecting Cattle Herders,” and “Mali and Democracy”. The New Testament was printed in the Fulbe’s language in 2006 and is available to villages who accept it into their libraries.
The US and Malian governments together with CRWRC are moving forward on the Millenium Challenge Project in one of the Fulbe village areas. This large aid initiative to meet Millenium Goals of cutting poverty should bring gardens and orchards to the Sahel. North American Christians advocated for Mali with the US government so that the program will be funded, and CRWRC is collaborating to make sure benefits will go to those in real need and that corrupt officials can not take village land for themselves.
Organism de Developpement pour l'Esperance au Mali (ODES)
The Development Organization That Brings Hope To Mali (ODES) is a church-based NGO that CRWRC support works to improve life in Mali.
For the past 1½ years ODES has been committed to reorienting its development process towards sustainable grassroots community development (RPSGCD) through two strategies:
- Consolidating the cereal bank and microfinance projects with the income generation activities programs, and transferring the ODES field agent skills to community members
- Ensuring community ownership the development process.
Currently, ODES report that many of the community groups are showing signs of increased ability to manage CB and MC activities. Communities now have, through participatory processes, action plans for moving forward in their development which will continue to be re-worked.
At ODES request the RPSGCD process will be extended in to the 3 others zones where they are working in partnership with others donors.
Agence Evangelique de Developpment du Mali (AEDM)
AEDM is an NGO working in the Mopti, Segou and Gao regions of Mali. Their work centers on education, health, micro-finance, environment and food security. African AEDM became a partner of CRWRC-Mali in 2008, and since then have received a grant from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to expand their food security project in the Dogon plains. This project included education about composting, new varieties of millet and cowpea, pest control, reforestation, poultry production, and market gardening.
Association Malianne des Femmes des Eglises Protestantes (AMAFEP)
AMAFEP is the Malian Women’s Association of the Evangelical Protestant Churches. This volunteer association of women is working with CRWRC in Mali to fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) or excision. AMAFEP seeks to stop excision within the Malian church first of all, and also to reach the rest of society with the anti-excision message.