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Reportage de la télévision suisse alémanique, 24.1.2013 (de)
- Crise au Mali: Factsheet
État au 13 mai 2013
Download (PDF, 563 KB) : [fr]
Definition of the common perspectives for
2012-2015 (article, 09.02.2012)- Stratégie de coopération de la Suisse au Mali 2012-2015
Download (PDF, 1652 KB) : [fr]
Mali
Website of the SDC in Mali: www.cooperation-suisse.admin.ch/mali/
The Mali conflict which began in March 2012 with a coup d'état has revealed just how fragile the country really is. Adapting to this new context, the SDC is nonetheless continuing its support for development as a stabilising factor. Among the priority objectives are improved food security, education vocational training and local public management. Swiss Humanitarian Aid has been actively supporting refugees. The security situation in the North of Mali has become very tense following the insurrections of 2012. The SDC has therefore suspended its efforts in the Mopti and Timbuktu regions, focusing instead on the South and notably the region of Sikasso. From this base, assistance is being provided to the population in the form of support for local structures. Against this background, the Swiss development cooperation approach to all projects has been one of conflict sensitivity. The success of this approach has enabled the SDC to continue operations in Mali at a time when other international actors have had to pull out. |
| Swiss International Cooperation | 2011 |
2012 |
2013* |
|---|---|---|---|
| SDC | |||
| Bilateral development cooperation | 18.08 | 16.50 | 18.00 |
| Humanitarian aid | 1.13 | 3.87 | – |
| State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) | |||
| Economic Cooperation and Development | – | – | – |
| Total SDC/SECO | 19.21 | 20.37 | 18.00 |
| Other Federal Offices | |||
| FDFA Human Security Division and Directorate of International Law | 0.76 | 0.39 | 0.08 |
| Other FDFA Divisions | – | 0.10 | .. |
| Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) | 0.12 | – | – |
| Total other Federal Offices | 0.88 | 0.49 | 0.08 |
| Cantons and municipalities | 1.08 | .. | .. |
| Total | 21.17 | 20.86 | 18.08 |
SDC figures excluding program contributions to NGOs
.. = figures not available | – = nil or amount < 5'000 CHF
Rural development
Improved production thanks to new infrastructure
More than two thirds of the population of Mali lives in rural areas, generating about one third of GDP. In this context the SDC supports the building of infrastructure designed to improve
agricultural productivity and income:
- Hydro-agricultural improvements
- Lakeside protective dykes
- Paths linking urban and rural environments
- Livestock parks
The aim of such projects is to improve the economic dynamics of rural communities. A special effort is made in this context to improve the access of women to rural property. Furthermore support for budgets in different sectors is intended to facilitate the transfer of financial resources to decentralised authorities and local communities.
Basic education and vocational training
Efforts to assist with social challenges
Access to
basic education is extremely limited in Mali. It is estimated that a million children aged between seven and 12 do not receive basic education, while half of those registered in primary schools soon
leave. The SDC is trying to improve the quality of teaching and to involve the educational institutions and other local actors is the choice of curricula.
Another hindrance to development is the low level of qualifications among the workforce. To combat this problem the SDC is helping to introduce training adapted to the specific needs of the labour market, enabling youths of both sexes to find jobs that serve the community.
Rule of law, democracy and governance
Making local institutions accept responsibility
Other
key SDC objectives in Mali are increasing the participation of citizens in different social groups while making officials answerable to those who elect them. In an effort to improve governance the
SDC is committed for example to promoting recognition of the role of traditional authorities in the building of democracy.
Improving the management of public affairs calls for the adoption of concrete measures both at the institutional level and in civil society. In this way the SDC intends to help strengthen the capacities of local elected officials in matters of financial and administrative management. The Agency promotes mobilisation of communities’ internal resources and the transfer of funds from the State. The SDC also supports citizenship programmes that would enable the population to have a say in public affairs.
Humanitarian aid, peacebuilding and security
Meeting the needs of displaced populations
Switzerland contributes to emergency relief aid intended to protect and assist those who have fled the conflict in the North. Some of these have remained in Mali, while others have sought
refuge in neighbouring countries.
In the context of the Mali crisis, Swiss Humanitarian Aid is providing financial support to actors in the field including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The SDC also intends to help improve the resistance of local populations to the food crises which are increasingly frequent in the Sahel and affect Mali.
Another division of the FDFA, the Human Security Division, is assisting with the peace dialogue in Mali, providing support to the mediation of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
History of Swiss cooperation
Focus on the real needs of the population
Mali has been a priority country for
Swiss development cooperation since 1977. The SDC Cooperation Office opened in 1980 initially concentrated on the environment, village hydraulics and health. Gradually the focus has shifted to the
institutions and to encouraging the population’s participation in defining the priorities of cooperation and its implementation. This approach makes it possible to respond more easily to people’s
real needs.
Background information Mali
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Source: World Bank's World Development Indicators 2013 |
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Local SDC contact address:
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Mali (Bamako) |
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Bureau de la Coopération Suisse au Mali |
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| Phone | +223 20 21 32 05 +223 20 21 73 62 |
| Fax | +223 20 21 81 79 |
| bamako@sdc.net | |
| Website | www.cooperation-suisse.admin.ch/mali/ |
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Additional Information and Documents Here, you will find more publications, links, documents and articles about Swiss development cooperation and humanitarian aid in this country. |