Mali

Mali, a landlocked former French colony, remains one of the least developed nations in the world. Elections in 1992 ushered in a new era of democracy after decades of military dictatorship. Prudent economic policies have stimulated growth, but poverty remains widespread and is not decreasing quickly enough. Mali's government has embarked on one of Africa's most ambitious decentralization programs, reflecting a commitment to poverty eradication and grassroots democracy. However, Mali faces many challenges in deepening its democracy and ensuring sustained human development.

Waging Peace

The Carter Center and the government of Mali have a strong partnership through existing disease eradication and agriculture programs. To make these efforts sustainable, the government of Mali invited the Carter Center's Global Development Initiative to work with the government and Malian civil society to strengthen democratic institutions needed to establish realistic and coordinated development priorities; facilitate citizen input into setting those priorities; improve government management of development policies, programs, and projects; and build the government's capacity to coordinate its needs with international financial institutions and donor countries.

Read full text on the Carter Center's peace work in Mali >

Fighting Disease

Since 1991, The Carter Center has worked in partnership with the Ministry of Health to eradicate Guinea worm disease in Mali. Since then, the Mali Guinea Worm Eradication Program has overcome many obstacles and nears success against this debilitating disease.

Read full text on the Carter Center's health work in Mali >