Drinking water and sanitation have become a main priority for Mali – the WASH sector is among the strategic directions of the “Cadre stratégique pour la Relance Economique et le Développement Durable” (CREDD, the Strategic Framework for Economic renewal et sustainable development). The CREDD aims to attain 100% coverage by 2030, in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The access level to drinking water as of Nov. 2017 is 68%[1] (65.3% for rural and 74.7% for urban). According to JMO 2015, access to sanitation stands at 25%. The major challenges lie in data management and sector coordination. The Government of Mali has undertaken a major revision of its national WASH policies with an aim to align them to the SDGs.
Preparation for the Sector Ministers’ Meeting, a multi-stakeholder process in Mali
Mali’s preparatory process for the Sector Ministers’ Meeting is guided by a clear roadmap, headed by the government through the Ministries in charge of water and sanitation. A national SWA monitoring committee is in place; it includes the national government focal points[2], Unicef Mali, WaterAid Mali, SWA’s CSO focal point in Mali, the private sector (through UDUMA Mali) and the CPS/SEEUDE[3] which is in charge of reporting for GLAAS and TRACKFIN in Mali.
SWA making a difference in Mali
In 2017, the SWA allowed the estimation of the cost of SDG 6 (amounting to $ 162 million (CFA 101 billion) for basic services and $ 668 million for dollars (CFA 416 billion) for safely managed services). Thanks to the SWA webinars, which are widely followed in Mali, the actors are strengthened on the initiatives for financing and reduction of inequalities. Stakeholders are increasingly adhering to the SWA process and are working together more through National Monitoring Committee meetings. The roadmap for the implementation of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism and the preparation of the SMM is beginning to be implemented with a planned acceleration in February 2019. This same monitoring committee is preparing for AFRICASAN 5.
A national workshop to engage all stakeholders in the preparation of the SMM
Mali has adopted a progressive approach to preparing for the Meeting – the SWA team in Mali prepares the Country Brief; a workshop is organised to present the Brief to all sector partners and validate it; the Brief is presented during the Joint Sector Review with a special communication on the Mutual Accountability Mechanism, in presence of a representative of the SWA Secretariat. The preparatory process for the Sector Ministers’ Meeting is being technically supported by the SWA Secretariat through its different webinars and bilateral calls. On 7 February, the Ministers in charge of Water and Sanitation chaired a national workshop on the preparation of the Sector Ministers’ Meeting. Fifty persons were invited to this workshop, including government and representatives from all constituencies.
Unicef Mali and WaterAid Mali at the heart of SWA in Mali
The SWA-related activities in Mali are supported by the country teams of Unicef and WaterAid. These two key partners host the participation in the SWA webinars, provide technical support to the government and CSO focal points on SWA and AFRICASAN, prepare simplified documents on the SWA, help (technically and financially) organise SWA monitoring meetings and reporting, and convene national and international NGOs around TRACKFIN.
[1] Source Rapport annuel 2017, Direction Nationale de l’Hydraulique
[2] Directeur National Adjoint de la Direction Nationale de l’Hydraulique et Directrice Nationale Adjointe de la Direction Nationale de l’Assainissement, du Contrôle des Nuisances et Pollution
[3] Cellule de planification et de statistique; secteurs Eau, Environnement, Urbanisme et Domaine de l’état