Mali
Humanity & Inclusion provides support to the Malian population severely affected by the conflict of 2012. The organisation runs some fifteen projects to strengthen the recovery and social cohesion in northern Mali, improve people’s resilience, and promote and support sustainable and inclusive development in Mali.


Children in an inclusive school, Humanity & Inclusion- Mali | © Sébastien Rieussec / HI
Our actions
In a situation of extreme poverty, Humanity & Inclusion is working on all fronts to provide Malians with an appropriate response, both in the north and south of the country. Its teams support victims of the recent conflict and continue to defend the right to health and dignity of people with disabilities.
As early as 2012, Humanity & Inclusion mobilised additional teams to respond to the humanitarian emergency in northern Mali. Mine clearance experts notably intervened to clear explosive remnants of war posing a threat to the population, and sometimes even schools.
The organisation continues to support vulnerable people, strengthen health services in the Timbuktu region, and fight against food insecurity and malnutrition among young children. Humanity & Inclusion also supports the initiatives of women's groups committed to peace and reconciliation.
At the same time, our teams remain committed to fighting discrimination against people with disabilities through access to education, care and employment. Finally, Humanity & Inclusion trains medical staff in the early detection of disability. Improving the care-management of young children prevents or limits the onset of disability and allows them to reach their full potential.
Since 2016, the organisation has implemented a project to prevent the risks of developmental delays and disabling sequelae in young children who have suffered from malnutrition, through physiotherapy and psychoaffective stimulation (encouraging interaction between parents and children, stimulation through play, etc.)
Areas of intervention
Latest stories

Identifying disabled children for school enrolment
Mohammed is a community volunteer. Every day, he rides his motorbike through local neighbourhoods of Timbuktu, Mali, in search of children with disabilities who do not attend school.

African States against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas
From 27th to 28th November, Handicap International (HI) is organising a regional conference on the bombing of civilians. The Conference will take place in Maputo, Mozambique and aims to bring together some 20 States, 10 African civil society organisations and international NGOs. The goal is to raise awareness of this vital challenge among African countries and to encourage them to take action on the world stage to protect civilians from the devastating impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

Using physiotherapy to treat the consequences of child malnutrition in Mali
Soumana Almouner Touré has worked for Handicap International since 2013. Originally from Gao, he coordinates the ESSPOIR project’s activities in Mali. He talked to us about the project, which helps malnourished children recover from developmental delays in three West African countries - Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - by providing them with physiotherapy and teaching parents to stimulate their children.
a life
Background

Mali is the largest state in West Africa after Niger and one of the poorest in the world. In recent years, it has been affected by droughts, political crises and armed conflict, which have led to massive population displacements and weakened all institutions.
In January 2012, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) occupied part of northern Mali. Several Islamist movements also made headway in the region. Two months later, the president was overthrown. The country was then plunged into an armed conflict that led to the intervention of the Malian and French armed forces in January 2013.
The fighting and presence of armed groups lead to the proliferation of small arms and the contamination of people’s homes by explosive remnants of war. In 2012, more than half of civilian victims of explosive remnants of war in Mali were children.
Hundreds of thousands of people have taken refuge in neighbouring countries. More than 280,000 Malians fled to the south and centre of the country, where host communities were still suffering from the impact of the devastating food crisis of 2011.
The humanitarian situation remains precarious. Institutions (health, education, public administration and so on) have been seriously impacted and the return of refugees and displaced people to their homes is continuing under difficult conditions.
The country is extremely poor. Mali's efforts to achieve universal primary education, control Humanity & InclusionV/AIDS and improve access to safe drinking water have been severely hampered.
People with disabilities are excluded and often victims of discrimination or prejudice. They represent the largest minority in the country. They have little or no access to health care, education, social services or employment. A very small proportion of children with disabilities attend school. In addition, in these times of crisis, these already very poor people are more vulnerable than before.
Mali / Partners
Early detection, management and stimulation of disability (DPCP) (children under 6 years old)
- Ministry of Health,
- Ministry of Social Development
- National Orthopaedic Fitting Centre of Mali (CNAOM)
- Malian Association for Combating Mental Impairment in Children (AMALDEME)
Support for the revitalization of the well-being of women, children and newborns in the context of the reconstruction of the Timbuktu region - Project PARENT 2
- Regional Health Department; Planning and Statistics Unit (CPS) of the Ministry of Health
- Regional Department of Social Development and the Solidarity Economy
- Regional Department for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family
- Local authorities; Regional Federation of Community Health Organisations
- Coordination of Women's Organisations in Timbuktu
HIV AND DISABILITY - West Africa Regional Project (WF)
- The West African Federation of Disabled People’s Organisations (FOAPH)
- FEMAPH; The Malian Network of Organisations of HIV-Positive People
- The National AIDS Control Council
- UNAIDS
Reinforcement of the rehabilitation system in Mali - SUDA Project
- WCPT (World Confederation for Physiotherapy)
- Motivation
- Mali physiotherapy organisation (AKIMA)
- National health sciences training institute (INFSS)
Reduction of armed violence in northern Mali (RVA)
- Local NGOs involved in risk education in northern Mali
- Decentralised services (elected representatives)
- Health centres
- Community leaders, key community actors and their networks
- National Directorate of Social Development
- Education Academies and Teaching Action Centres in the Timbuktu and Gao regions
Improving access, quality and governance of basic and secondary education (PAQAMA)"in the Gao region (AFD)
- Ministry of National Education
- Academy of Education and CAPs of the Gao region
- DPOs
- school management committee
- parent teacher association, mother student association
The Re-launch of Inclusive Education - LIRE in Timbuktu
- Local and institutional authorities
- The local population
- DPOs
Schooling Project for Deaf and Blind Children in Ordinary Schools - PAOSSE (USAID)
- Technical education services at local and national level
- DPO
Improve the economic resilience of young people - Socio-economic inclusion (ACTIF)
- Mopti Regional Council; National Department of Vocational Training (DNFP)
- MFI (Microfinance Institution)
- Master Craftsmen; Agency for the Promotion of Youth Employment (APEJ)
- Regional Department of Employment and Vocational Training (DREFP)
Improving governance in order to include people with disabilities in the national HIV/AIDS strategy
- The West African Federation of Disabled People’s Organisations (FOAPH)
- FEMAPH
- The Malian Network of Organisations of HIV-Positive People
- The National AIDS Control Council
- UNAIDS
Food security and resilience ARC
- Local and institutional authorities
- population of municipalities where we work
NORAD Inclusive education