Mali
Mali is a landlocked country situated in the dry belt of Sahel in West Africa. Named after the great empire of Mali, known as a great cultural centre, tourism was earlier one of the country’s most significant sources of income, with famous attractions as Timbuktu, the Dogon Plateau, and the Great Mosque of Djenné.
However, in the later years, Mali has experienced political turmoil, including several military coups. Growing insecurity and instability, particularly in the north and eastern regions, have resulted in school closures and a high number of out-of-school children.
Almost half of the population is under 25 years old, which is a very high percentage.
The government faces the challenge of providing sufficient employment opportunities and services to support the growing youth population.
Further, the population faces increased food insecurity, due to both the regular harsh conditions in the Sahel, but also due to climate change, such as shorter rainy seasons, sporadic and more intense rainfalls, resulting in both floods and droughts.
Our approach and focus areas
Re-enrollment of out-of-school children through Speed Schools, an accelerated education for children and adolescents; improved literacy and life skills for illiterate women; and our adolescent empowerment programme, Tamadash.
Promoting entrepreneurship and economic empowerment, through vocational training for youth and community-managed savings groups for women.
School meals support learning and attendance, while providing safety and stability in crisis‑affected settings. At our Speed Schools, meals are sourced locally and supported by school gardens to strengthen nutrition and food security.
In promoting gender equality, we ensure that women, boys and girls have access to education, employment, and leadership opportunities, empowering them to become drivers of change in their communities.
We also integrate climate-smart practices into our initiatives, helping communities adapt to climate change while protecting the environment.
Additionally, we champion inclusion by ensuring that marginalised and vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, advocating for equal access to resources, opportunities, and platforms to amplify their voices.
For the 2024–2028 strategic period, we are partnering with local organizations and other private sector partners to strengthen the resilience of poor and marginalized communities in Timbuktu, Ségou, Sikasso, Koulikourou, Bougoni and Dioila regions.
Our Key Programmes
We have two main Programme interventions:
- Inclusive Quality Education and Lifelong Learning
- Income Generation and Job Creation
Speed School for children
(8-12 years)
Speed School provides children who have never enrolled in school, or who have missed several years of schooling, with an opportunity to catch up and transition into Grade 4 of the formal public school system.
Over a nine‑month period, children complete the equivalent of the first three years of primary education, learning to read, write and count. Teaching follows the national curriculum, starts in the children’s mother tongue, and gradually transitions to French, the official language of instruction
Speed School for adolescents
(13-14 years)
Children who do not complete primary education are unable to continue to lower secondary school, increasing the risk of child labour and early marriage. Speed School therefore also offers adolescents a second chance to complete the full primary school curriculum over a two‑year accelerated learning programme.
Adolescents who pass the primary school leaving examination are eligible to enrol directly in Grade 6 or 7, significantly improving their chances of completing their education.
Tamadash – Adolescent Empowerment
Tamadash targets adolescents between 15 and 20 years in a one year programme to improve their life skills, literacy, and vocational skills.
The goal is to strengthen their skills in areas that contribute to the wider society such as food security and adaptation to climate change to build community resilience and social cohesion.
Vocational Training for youth
(15-25 years)
To support the transition from school to work, and in response to high youth unemployment, we implement a one‑year vocational training programme for youth and young adults.
Participants acquire practical vocational skills that enable local employment or self‑employment, while also contributing to climate mitigation and improved food security through sustainable livelihoods, climate‑smart agriculture and improved water management.
Active Literacy for women
Active Literacy allows women to follow a two-year curriculum that enables them to acquire academic skills.
They also discuss themes related to citizenship, early marriage, the importance of education, children’s health issues, and income-generating activities.
Community Managed Savings Groups (CMSG)
The Community Managed Savings Groups (CMSG) Programme strengthens financial inclusion by enabling community members, especially women and youth, to save, access credit, and invest in income-generating activities as small trade, breeding and climate-smart agriculture.
Country Office Mali
Strømme Foundation Mali
BP : 3203 – NIAMAKORO, CITE UNICEF
Rue : N° 84 Porte 152
Bamako, Mali
Telephone: +223 20 20 38 84/91
E-mail: [email protected]
Country director
Rokiatou Dembélé
Our Partnerships
These partnerships amplify our impact, ensuring that resources are used effectively and efficiently to drive sustainable change. Transparency, accountability, and community ownership are at the core of everything we do.
We invite like-minded partners to join us in this transformative journey, whether through strategic collaborations, resource sharing, or volunteer efforts to build a more inclusive, resilient, and prosperous future for Mali.