Skip to Main Content

USAID/Mali, From the American People

Governance & Communications Program: An Malian working at a USAID/Mali supported radio station.

 

 

USAID/Mali’s Governance and Communications (GovCom) program seeks to empower Malians to play an important role at the local level in a decentralized system of democratic governance. This means working in partnership with all key actors – the state, local elected authorities, civil society, and the private sector – to find solutions to local development issues. The GovCom program is currently working to support the Malian government in a few key areas: decentralization, elections support, and peace and stability in the northern regions. Financing the construction of radio stations as well as training in the development and production of radio content have been integral components to the success of all GovCom programming.

 

Our Activities:


Local Governance and Decentralization:

In less than twenty years, Mali has developed a strong, stable, and vibrant democracy. Following the popular revolution of March 1991, the Malian Constitution of 1992 established a multi-party system, the protection of human rights, and the freedom of the press and speech. Since that time, a key priority of the Government of Mali (GoM) has been the decentralization of the state, though efforts have been hampered by low levels of local governance capacity. GovCom programming directly supports GoM efforts to develop local governance capacity by training local governments (at the commune level) in financial administration and public service delivery. Local civil society groups are also trained, primarily in capacity development, so that they can become effective partners in the democratic process.
See Details/Success Stories...


Peace and Stability:

In Northern Mali, a set of socioeconomic, political, and cultural drivers work to shape the region’s vulnerability to and resiliency against violent extremism. Longstanding tensions between north and south, as well as competition rooted in tribal, ethnic, or clan-based divisions are sources of instability, while state weakness, economic hardship, and uneven development are underlying forces which have fueled internecine conflict. GovCom programming works directly with religious leaders, local governments and Civil Society Organizations in a comprehensive approach to regional peace building. GovCom activities work towards strengthening the local capacity to identify and implement community development initiatives, increasing youth participation in government and community decision-making processes, increasing access to quality information via new and existing forms of ICT, and reinforcing local mechanisms for conflict mitigation and reconciliation.
See Details/Success Stories...

Civil Society:

Over the past 20 years, Mali’s vibrant democracy has seen rapid expansion on all levels of civil society. According to the Cellule d’Appui au Développement à la Base (CADB), a government office charged with supporting local development, there are approximately 40,000 official and unofficial local organizations in Mali, of which 10,000 were declared in the eight years between 1998 and 2006. There remains, however, chronic low engagement between the many civil society organizations and the various levels local government in Mali. GovCom programming is currently supporting a basket funded program that focuses on developing the capacity of national and regional level civil society organizations. As with other programming, GovCom seeks to improve Local Capacity Development such that civil society organizations become more engaged and effective, so that they are able to address the interests of their members.
See Details/Success Stories...


Map of USAID/Mali Governance and Communications Activities in Mali:

A map showing all USAID/Mali Governance and Communications Activities throughout the country.

This map above outlines the two current activities, and one former activity, of the Governance and Communications (GovCom) Program at USAID/Mali.  Out of a total 703 communes, GovCom’s decentralization program (Programme du Gouvernance Partagee, or PGP2) is active in 82 communes.  Walaikum, GovCom’s peace and conflict mitigation program, is present in 24 of the 82 PGP2 communes, all in the north.  The recently closed program, Radio for Peace Building in the North of Mali, is shown on the map by the yellow circles, representing the 11 radio stations that the program built and installed in the Northern regions of Gao, Timbuktu, and Kidal.

 


TOP

Last Updated on: February 23, 2012