Success Stories

Agriculture is the cornerstone of Mali's economy. The Feed the Future Mali Sene Yiriwa-South project is introducing new techniques and technologies to improve not only farming practices and productivity, but also farmers’ lives.

Fatoumata Bagayoko, a 33-year-old mother of seven, lives with her husband in a village in the Bougouni health district. Years into her marriage, she was not using any family planning methods, and she experienced three pregnancies in less than three years, adversely affecting both her health and that of her youngest child.

At just 18 months old, Ramatou Traoré was entrusted to her grandparents due to her mother's pregnancy. Prematurely weaned from breast milk and deprived of the essential nutrients critical for her growth, Ramatou soon fell victim to severe acute malnutrition.

Located nine kilometers away from the Farakala community health center, the village of Kandiadougou in Mali faced a healthcare crisis in June 2021 when critical immunization outreach activities were halted due to a shortage of health personnel, specifically a vaccination agent.

According to UNICEF, 55 percent of Malian girls marry before the age of 18 (2016). Mariam (pseudonym) is a 15-year-old girl who lives with her parents. Full of ambition, Mariam dreams of becoming a nurse, although she enrolled late in school. In her village, early marriage is a common practice which is rooted in tradition and supported by religious beliefs. Parents believe that marriage ensures a steady future and protection for their daughters.

The global fertilizer crisis resulting from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has had detrimental effects on economic and agricultural sectors around the world.

Since 2015, Zoumana Konaté has served as technical director of Mamissa Community Health Center, in the Bougouni health district in Sikasso region. The establishment of this health center is the result of collaboration between 14 villages.

Since 2018, Joseph Kone has worked as the technical director at the Saye Community Health Center, situated in the Macina health district of the Ségou Region. Over the years, he observed a concerning underutilization of health services by the residents of Nienemado village.

In the Konio health area, situated in the Dandougou Fakala municipality, a significant positive change has taken place thanks to the community's effort in financing local healthcare.

Child nutrition is a major underlying cause of morbidity and mortality in Mali. However, the USAID funded New Partnerships Initiative EXPAND Child Survival activity that started implementing in the regions of Koulikoro and Kayes, in November 2022 looks to change that fact for children in the region. In the district of Ouéléssébougou, one of the first activities was mapping the Community Action Group for Nutrition, identifying the groups that were functional, and revitalizing those that were inactive. The community groups are composed of health agents and mothers and are instrumental in identifying malnourished children at an early stage so their cases can be treated before they develop severe malnutrition.