Focus Mali
Introduction
Mali is a Sahelian country that lies along the southern edge of the Sahara desert. The Sahel’s semi-desert environment is one of the harshest in the world. Both fertile land and water are in scarce supply. Mali has been suffering an ongoing 30-year drought and many communities all too often do not have enough food to survive. The likelihood is that life will become tougher for many already living on the edge. Desertification through deforestation—often accredited to the cutting of firewood—has led to the loss of precious fertile land. It is estimated that the desert is claiming 300 meters of land per year.
However, prominent climate scientists explain that it is global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change rather than local action that is ultimately to blame for this degradation. The rains no longer fall when expected, or in sufficient quantity. Crops and trees are lost, and fertile soil gradually turns to sand. Ten years ago average rainfall was 600-700 mm a year—it is now only 400mm. The quality of the soil is deteriorating with the changing climate and many varieties of trees have disappeared. The desert climate is slowly claiming what was once precious fertile land.
Project Details
Working in this context, Christian Aid’s long-term partner is Actions de Promotion Humaine (APH), the development wing of the Church in Mali. APH was established in response to severe drought, and its main focus has been to provide water to villages, as well as to assist them in securing sustainable forms of livelihood. Dams, wells and hydraulic systems all help to ensure people have clean water to drink and water for their crops. In addition, APH works with communities to increase the amount of food that people have to eat by making best use of the land and resources available to them. APH does this by teaching people the skills needed to adapt to the changing environment and providing alternative ways to earn an income.
- APH provides the equipment needed for building the future—such as hammers, wheelbarrows and spirit levels—through grants and micro-credit schemes.
- APH teaches villagers how to build stonewalls along the contours of the land. These stop the rain from running away taking the nutrients with it and so prevents soil erosion and helps regenerate the land.
- APH teaches methods of farming which increase the success of the crops, for example using organic fertilizers and digging holes in the earth to capture the rainwater.
- APH teaches villagers the importance of protecting and planting trees. It organizes villagers into committees that protect areas of existing vegetation and discourage the cutting of trees for firewood.
- APH provides small loans and training to women in soap making. This provides further income for women to buy food and better provide for their families.
- APH helps communities to organize themselves into groups, which then work together for the community’s benefit, often using micro-credit schemes.
'Credit Where Credit’s Due' — A Success Story
Madina Seyba and the Soap: Madina Seyba’s greatest worry is how she will feed her five children each day. She and her husband previously relied on the income from growing and selling onions on a small patch of land. But they were less and less able to depend on the rains and consequently the onion crop. Resorting to travelling around nearby villages asking friends for handouts, Madina felt ashamed.
But she now feels proud. She, together with others in a Woman’s Association self-help group, received a small loan and training from APH to make soap to use and to sell to other villagers to generate a small income.
Madina Seyba says:
“The woman’s association makes soap which we use to wash our body and clothes with. We also sell the soap tothose who need it in the village or take it to the nearest market. APH provided us with loans and equipment to startthe production; for example a cooking pot and plastic cans to make the soap paste and balls in – and also the stick tomix the powder. The income is so important for our families. We use it to buy food – rice or millet. And salt when we can afford it.
Receiving loans directly from APH to do this was so important. Before I would have to go from village to village and see friends there, who suspected that I had come to ‘beg’ – it felt shameful. I feel proud now that I have access to loans, which generate income and I now worry less about how to get food.”
When we support this year’s'Credit Where Credit’s Due' World Development Appeal, we stand in solidarity with someof the most vulnerable people on earth and provide them with the start-up finance necessary to change their lives.
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