Mali

Conflict and insecurity continue to exacerbate a very fragile situation in the Sahel region, mainly in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Combined with a repetitive cycle of flooding, extreme poverty, a lack of economic opportunities and scarcity of basic services, pre-existing vulnerabilities are accentuated. Consequently, sustainable access to educational opportunities is reduced for children throughout Mali.

This security situation threatens the well-being of children and their access to safe learning environments. Indiscriminate attacks by armed groups against civilians; violence against girls and women; and attacks on state institutions, including schools and health facilities, are common throughout the region. In Mali, over half of the students are out of the classroom and vulnerable to recruitment by armed forces, sexual and gender-based violence, child labour, and other forms of exploitation and abuse.

Building on the impact of the First Emergency Response (FER) initially rolled out in 2019, ECW has launched a Multi-Year Resilience Programme (MYRP). As part of the Fund’s regional response, MYRPs have also been launched in Burkina Faso and Niger. All the programmes seek to strengthen the education sector and provide for children’s critical needs in the areas of safety and protection.

In Mali, the MYRP aims to expand access to learning spaces; cover school fees for families; provide remedial learning courses; strengthen the capacity for the learning environment; support educators; and engage the communities in which they work. ECW also provides support for girls and children with disabilities; increases enrolment rates and implements school protections through a holistic approach that meets children and adolescents’ physical, mental and psychosocial needs.