Clean Mali: Improving sanitation and strengthening the circular economy

Context

Mali has set ambitious goals for water, sanitation and waste management, and therefore for climate policy.

While access to drinking water has now become easier, there is still room for improvement when it comes to municipal services involving wastewater and waste management. This is mainly due to the faltering decentralisation process and slow infrastructure development.

This situation is a particular burden for women, who are traditionally responsible for household latrines and waste. Improper disposal causes serious environmental problems and puts water resources at risk. Valuable raw materials are not being sorted from waste for recycling. There is a lack of regulatory structures, funding and well-qualified skilled workers.

Objective

Sanitation and recycling are improved and more sustainable for 40 per cent of residents in the provincial centres of municipalities involved in the project. This makes a decisive contribution to the protection of water resources.

Approach

To create better conditions for waste and wastewater management, the project works with the Ministry of Environment and its specialist agencies. It also cooperates at local level, supporting community administrative associations in implementing sanitation and waste management reference projects.

Specialist organisations such as the Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association (BORDA) provide assistance in commissioning new plants. Additional partners are the Mali Ministry of Employment and the SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences, which ensure the transfer of knowledge to training institutions in Mali. At the same time, together with the consulting firm AMBERO, the project supports selected small companies in leveraging sorted waste and by doing so closing gaps in the circular economy and promoting employment. Young entrepreneurs and women receive particular support here.

Last update: August 2023