3.7 million people don't have clean water.
3.7 million people don't have clean water.
That's almost one in five people.
11.2 million people don't have a decent toilet of their own.
11.2 million people don't have a decent toilet of their own.
That's half the population.
Almost 4,700 children under five die a year from diarrhoea
Almost 4,700 children under five die a year from diarrhoea
caused by dirty water, poor toilets, and a lack of hygiene facilities.
Our work in Mali
Since 2000, we’ve been working with communities to develop reliable, sustainable solutions. We focus on supporting those who are often overlooked: people affected by conflict or climate change, women and girls, and nomadic groups.
We partner with others to encourage the government to put water, toilets and hygiene at the heart of its spending. We help those responsible to develop the skills they need to deliver these essential services. And we support people to demand access to them.
Sharing skills to keep the water flowing
A mason and carpenter by trade, Souleymane is one of four mechanics in Samabogo, in the central Ségou region, who we've trained to maintain the area’s water towers and tap stands.
By equipping people like Souleymane with the skills and expertise they need to take care of problems, we’re making sure that communities don’t need to rely on us – or anyone else – to help when things go wrong.
Local residents are empowered to take ownership of the water systems, ensuring their impact will continue long into the future.
Supporting female entrepreneurs to keep their village safe
In rural communities like Samabogo, in the Ségou Region, women have few opportunities to be economically active. During the dry season, there’s little to do but wait until the next rains. Without a way of earning their own money, women are dependent on their husbands to meet their families’ needs.
We supported local women to set up a soapmaking collective, which also offers small loans to its members. The group empowers members to learn new skills, earn a steady income, and take control of their own finances.
Watch: the Soapmakers of Samabogo
It’s a win-win situation: because the group sells their soap at a fair price, more people can afford to use it to keep their families safe.
And with the money they make from selling it, women can buy clothes and medicine for their children, pay school fees, and cover household expenses. They can make their own decisions about what to spend and how much to save – without having to ask their husbands.
Using theatre to improve hygiene
Drama and dance are central to Mali’s culture and heritage – so we’ve used this national passion to inspire our projects. Through community theatre and role plays, locally-respected artists have helped over 10,000 people understand the importance of good hygiene.