Danida-SP-ToC4-Mali

Mali is one of the poorest countries in the world ranking 175 out of 188 countries evaluated in the 2016 Human Development Index. Half of the population lives below the income poverty line (USD 1.9 per day). Since 2012 the political and security crisis has weakened the social structures and relations in many parts of the country due to residual insecurity caused by attacks, robberies, targeted assassinations, abductions of individuals. This crisis has slowed democratic, governance and decentralisation processes and the situation is characterized by little political dialogue, very weak or non-existent citizen control, total opacity of the state budget and local authorities, a lack of accountability and control mechanism (little or no reporting in the public affairs management, little information and space of participation and influence for the citizen). Young women and men under 25 (counting for 65% of the population) are excluded from participation in democratic and peace building processes despite their wish to contribute to peace, stable and dynamic social cohesion through their participation in socio-economic and political development. According to them, deprivation of fundamental rights to education and health causes ignorance and insecurity . Both in the north and south of Mali, there is a great lack of trust between the state, the judiciary institutions and the citizens. The proposed project represents a move by Oxfam IBIS to work in Mali and has been formulated through continuous dialogue with Oxfam in Mali. It falls within the Oxfam Country Strategy as well as Oxfam IBIS’ three thematic competences: Economic & Social Justice, Education for Active Citizenship and Peace, Rights & Inclusion. It contributes to SDGs 4, 5, 8 and 16 and aligns with the national policies in Mali and the Denmark – Mali Country Programme 2017 - 2022. The overall objective of the project is that young people in Mali realise their full potential and become active citizens in the peacebuilding process. The specific objective of the project is that poor and marginalized young people enhance their rights to quality education, participation in peacebuilding and influence in decision-making affecting their lives.