For Immediate Release
Press Release
Bamako: August 12, 2024: in celebration of International Youth Day, the United States government, through USAID, proudly announces the launch of a new $25 million initiative, USAID Mali Shifin ni Tagne (Youth and Development). This transformative program aims to support 20,000 vulnerable and marginalized Malian youth, aged 15 to 29 while building their resilience to effectively handle recurrent crises in Mopti, Segou, and Bamako.
Over the next five years, the Shifin ni Tagne initiative will deliver targeted interventions, including education, workforce readiness, media literacy, youth entrepreneurship, private sector engagement, environmental protection, reproductive health, and community participation. These efforts will ensure that young people are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
This initiative builds on USAID’s six-decade legacy of successful educational programs in Mali, which have notably improved local-language literacy, primary-level mathematics, and the quality of education in over 4,000 U.S. government-supported schools across the country.
In response to the complex challenges faced by Malian youth, Shifin ni Tagne will adopt a holistic approach, enabling young people to overcome adversity, manage trauma, and seize opportunities for a more productive and healthy life. USAID, in partnership with FHI-360, will collaborate closely with the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Civic Engagement, the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Vocational Training, as well as local organizations, the private sector, and other key stakeholders. These partnerships will focus on enhancing skills development, knowledge transfer, and capacity-building for all youth, including those in hard-to-reach areas and those living with disabilities.
As the largest bilateral education donor in Mali, the United States government remains committed to partnering with the Malian government to continue delivering quality primary education, fostering healthy development, advancing media literacy, promoting entrepreneurial learning, and expanding reproductive health knowledge.