WaterAid set up in Mali in 2000 and in the last eight years has helped over 60,000 people gain access to safe, sustainable water supplies and sanitation. These basic human rights underpin health, education and livelihoods and form the first, essential step in overcoming poverty.
A young girl collects water from a water point in Nafadji.
Credit: WaterAid / Daniel O'Leary
Mali is a desperately poor country with over two thirds of the population is living below the poverty line - approximately seven million people.
Figures for the numbers of people with water and sanitation facilities vary considerably. Official sources claim 50% of the population has access to safe water, but, as up to a third of all handpumps are likely to be broken, less than 30% is more realistic.
WaterAid now has a presence in five out of eight of Mali's impoverished regions (Tombouctou, Gao, Mopti, Segou and Koulikoro).
In urban areas, work is focusing on establishing communal tapstands, linked to the city's main water supplies. In the rural regions, we focus on helping communities to deepen and protect hand-dug wells and fit them with either handpumps or buckets and windlasses to ensure that the water is not contaminated. Where possible broken handpumps are also mended.
Achievements to date
- Helped nearly 60,000 people gain access to water and sanitation
- Raised the profile of the water and sanitation sector through influencing national policies
- Contributed to partners' capacity reinforcement
- Been responsible for helping build the capacity of civil society organizations and local government
- Set up centers selling spare parts so that local communities can repair their own water and sanitation facilities
- Head of WaterAid in Mali awarded Chevalier de L’Ordre National
WaterAid in Mali
Korotoumou Traoe carrying clean water as a result of a WaterAid funded project in Nefadji, Bamoko. Credit: WaterAid / Daniel O'Leary
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In just eight short years, WaterAid has established a network of seven local partner organizations.
Together, we target the most vulnerable sections of society in Mali - the poorest and the most marginalised, including women, the elderly, the disabled and those living with HIV/AIDS. To assist with this, research into gender was carried out in 2005 and a project has also been developed to work with disabled people.
The vulnerability ranking system, initiated by WaterAid in Nigeria, has also been introduced in Mali to ensure projects are equitable. This system enables communities to decide how much each member pays for water, based on their financial situation, to ensure resources are allocated fairly.
Sanitation schemes include household latrines and school sanitation blocks.
Hygiene education is carried out in a variety of ways - one approach is community soapmaking. Not only do they earn money and new skill, but also encourage and spread good hygiene practices among their communities. The simple act of washing hands with soap and water at key times reduces diarrheal diseases by over 40%.
Revolving credit schemes have also been introduced to communities to enable women to buy buckets with lids which prevent water from becoming contaminated on the journey home.
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