Overview on Climate Resilience Efforts

Mali’s 2021 updated NDC reflects enhanced emissions reduction ambition, alignment with the SDGs, gender integration, and a robust M&E plan. Key sectors identified include agriculture, forestry, energy, water, and waste. While Mali developed a GCF Country Programme in 2018, sectoral investment plans are yet to be finalised.

The National Programme for Integrated Water Resources Management (2019–2030) promotes IWRM through four pillars:

1. Institutional enhancement,
2. Financial sustainability using polluter/user-pays principles,
3. Operationalization of Water Police,
4. Capacity building.

WASH services are being decentralized under frameworks such as the 1995 Local Authorities Code, the 2002 Water Law, and the 2006 Water Policy. However, the National Strategy for Drinking Water (2007) lacks integration of climate change considerations. This readiness project aims to bolster Mali’s capacity to implement climate-resilient water strategies.

Gender Dimensions of Climate Change

Mali ranks 155th out of 170 countries in the UNDP Gender Inequality Index. Women and girls face significant disadvantages in education, healthcare, and labor force participation. The 2015 National Gender Policy promotes gender representation in public institutions. However, due to entrenched inequalities, women and youth are disproportionately vulnerable to climate impacts and have limited access to relevant information and adaptation tools.

Project Focus