Mali

DVV International has been active in Mali since 2008. Since 2012, the regional office of DVV International West Africa has been located in Bamako, the capital city. The current security crisis in the country is due in large part to political instability. Both the struggling economy and poor security situation has had a devastating effect on the level of education, and the central challenge therefore remains not only to prevent the educational level in Mali from being exacerbated by the crisis and rising demographics, but also to improve educational levels again overall. Non-formal and catch-up education programmes for young people and adults are therefore more important than ever.

In 2019, the national ten-year programme for the development of the education sector up to 2028 was adopted. This programme also includes the area of adult learning and non-formal education. However, funding for the budget earmarked for adult learning and education (ALE) has not yet been secured. However, unlike before, there is now a greater awareness of the issue, thanks in part to the commitment of DVV International.

Main focus of work

The work of DVV International helps to ensure that state and civil society actors recognise the important contribution of ALE to improving the level of education, the social, economic, political and cultural development of the country and to solving the crisis in Mali. DVV is further committed to helping all state and civil actors to invest materially and immaterially in the education sector.
With this objective, DVV International in Mali is focused on the following areas:

• Strengthening coordinated collaboration between state and non-state actors in non-formal ALE: A formal, cross-ministerial coordination body, including non-state actors in ALE, has been established and is developing concrete proposals for the further development of ALE in Mali. Another focus is securing reliable funding sources for ALE.
• Promoting ALE centres: DVV International supports the exchange between the different centres and offers training in ALE methods for teaching staff. In addition, the Institute develops thematic training modules (for example, on the topic of climate change).
• Expanding ALE courses in selected municipalities: In various towns and cities, needs-based basic education courses are organised together with partners via REFLECT circles (literacy circles). After assessing local educational needs, targeted further education programmes are then offered and partially certified.

Partners

At the national level, the Ministry of Education is a central partner of DVV International, in particular the Directorate for Non-Formal Education and Promotion of National Languages. In addition, DVV International cooperates with municipal and civil society providers of ALE centres in the Koulikoro region and in Bamako, as well as through village learning circles in northern Mali.