LuxDev works in Mali to support technical and vocational education and training, employment and a stronger civil society.
LuxDev in Mali
Cooperation between Luxembourg and Mali took shape with the signing of a general cooperation agreement in 1998. Three Indicative Cooperation Programmes (ICPs) subsequently guided this partnership between 2003 and 2019. Under these programmes, LuxDev supported national and local partners in strengthening their capacities and implementing development initiatives for the benefit of people across the country.
Today, LuxDev’s work in Mali focuses on technical and vocational education and training, employment and strengthening civil society. Aligned with national strategies, its projects aim to promote sustainable and inclusive development.
Challenges in Mali
Mali faces a multidimensional crisis marked by insecurity and economic pressures, affecting young people, vulnerable populations and the labour market.
Vocational training remains insufficiently inclusive and poorly aligned with business needs, while governance of the sector requires strengthening. Many young people, particularly in rural areas, struggle to access quality training. Limited partnerships with the private sector also restrict opportunities for internships, employment and sustainable livelihoods. Working with national and local authorities, the priority is to develop inclusive and diverse training pathways that lead to recognised qualifications and meet the needs of economic actors. Stronger links between training and employment should help young people enter the labour market and earn a decent income.
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Meanwhile, in an increasingly restricted civic space, civil society organisations need to preserve their ability to act and engage in dialogue with the authorities. Growing administrative requirements and funding constraints hamper their contribution to civic participation, accountability and social cohesion.
In the health sector, populations vulnerable to HIV continue to face stigma and unequal access to prevention, testing and care. Funding disruptions undermine community-based services and continuity of treatment, highlighting the need for sustainable and equitable access to quality care.
Our activities in Mali
Today, our activities in Mali are shifting from a primarily sector-based approach towards stronger support for civil society, while maintaining our commitment to youth training and employment.
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Helping young people gain skills and access employment
Concentrated in the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro and Sikasso and the district of Bamako, this support focuses on strengthening private sector actors and their involvement in pathways that help young people move from training into employment. It aims to better connect businesses’ skills needs, training provision and employment opportunities.
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Engaging the private sector
At the regional level, Luxembourg Development Cooperation’s private sector engagement fund enables us to foster partnerships with businesses on an equal footing, based on shared costs and risks, entrepreneurship and the use of local knowledge.
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Supporting civil society organisations
We implement a project supporting civil society organisations in the Sahel to strengthen their role in social cohesion and inclusive governance. In Mali, this support promotes civic participation, dialogue with the authorities and the protection of human rights, including through community-based dispute resolution mechanisms.
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Strengthening HIV prevention and care
We support ENDA Santé in implementing a subregional project across 11 West African countries to improve the health of vulnerable populations and those facing discrimination. The project strengthens their access to integrated, quality services for the prevention and management of HIV and related conditions.
Key figures in Mali
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EUR 6,909,838
disbursed in Mali in 2025
