Mali

Education on the move

Along with its neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, Mali shares some of the worst education rates in Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Only 20 per cent of the adult population can read or write
• 52 per cent of girls, 30 per cent of boys of primary school age were not in education (2002 figures)

The problem is particularly acute for nomadic herders, or pastoralists, in the Sahel region. Because of their nomadic lifestyle, regularly crossing between borders, children often miss out on the chance to go to school.

How Oxfam is helping

We raise awareness of the importance of sending children, especially girls, to school. We provide educational materials and equipment and continue to lobby the government to make sure they live up to their pledges to put all children through primary education by 2015.

In pictures: Oxfam school gardens project

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Read more examples of our work in Mali:

• Development
• Campaigning
• Emergencies

Comic Relief is a funding partner of Oxfam in Mali.

Resolving conflict

Communities in Mali's Northern region have suffered more than ten years of in-fighting.

Conflict is fuelled by increased competition for diminishing resources, a lack of employment, and the widespread availability of small arms across the region. A fundamental lack of confidence exists between communities.

  "Nomadic pastoralists traditionally carry arms to protect themselves. Unfortunately, decorative swords have mainly been replaced with Kalashnikovs.

How Oxfam is helping

We work with local communities to strengthen traditional methods, and identify new ways, to resolve conflict. One focus of our work is to include women in the peace-building process, and to encourage the collection and destruction of arms across the region.

Want to help? Join the campaign for tougher arms controls

Other development work

• Working with pastoralist communities to support sustainable livelihoods, girls' education and conflict reduction

Oxfam's work in Mali in depth

Working with cotton farmers

Mali is one of the world's biggest cotton producers, employing some three million people, or a quarter of the country's population. However, falling cotton prices are forcing many farmers out of cotton production without any other viable way of making a living.

Subsidies paid to Western farmers lead to the over production of cotton in rich countries. This surplus is then dumped onto world markets at rock-bottom prices. US cotton dumping alone is estimated to have reduced world cotton prices by 15 per cent. In Mali this translates as a $57.7 million loss in cotton revenues from 2001-3.

How Oxfam is helping

We work with Malian farmers to lobby for fairer trade rules. We aim to help cotton producers have a say in both national and international policies that affect the cotton sector.  

More than 830,000 Malian farmers and their families signed a petition demanding the end of subsidies. This was presented to the World Trade Organisation in 2005. Following this, the US Congress passed a law outlawing export subsidies on cotton in the United States.

Want to help? Add your voice to the call for fairer trade rules

Other campaigning work

• Lobbying for tougher arms controls

Oxfam's work in Mali in depth

West Africa Food Crisis 2010

Oxfam's response to the West Africa Food Crisis has now moved into a recovery phase. We are working hard to increase people's resistance to drought, and reduce their vulnerability in the future.

West Africa Food Crisis update

How Oxfam responded

Oxfam was one of the first organisations to respond to the crisis. Our initial focus was on distributing food, vaccinating animals and providing subsidised animal feed. Further activities helped people become self-sufficient again.

Find out more about Oxfam's West Africa Food Crisis response

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Oxfam's work in Mali in depth