A democratic country, a solid civil society, respect of human rights, peace and safety initiatives: Mali is considered an African leader in many areas. It is, however, one of the world’s 10 poorest countries. That is why Canadian Crossroads International (CCI) works in Mali to develop a social economy filled with solidarity, with the support of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

CCI has been present in Mali for many years, and has just set up an innovative three-part partnership approach. For each project, it collaborates with a Malian NGO and a Québec-based organization that share the same interests.

“For example, we are partners with Association Jeunesse Action-Mali (AJA-Mali), which aims for a country without unemployment. Its work is based on the social and professional insertion of youth through training in various manual labour fields, such as metalwork. One of the administrators came to Québec last June and met with five organizations that work in the same field. He finally opted to work with the Atelier Action Jeunesse, from Trois-Rivières”, said Francine Baril, CCI’s regional agent for Mali-Niger programs.

In Mali, Zantiébougou women have regrouped around shea butter, to turn it into a source of income. The Women Shea Butter Producers Cooperative of Zantiébougou (COPROKAZAN) covers 16 villages and has 259 members, 256 of whom are women. Photo: CCI

Last fall, people from Atelier Action Jeunesse went to Mali to evaluate the needs. “It is very important for us that the Québec-based organization go on site to get a feel from the environment. Most people we send see Africa for the first time. It is crucial for them to discover the reality lived on the field. Later, they understand much better the real needs and the working methods”, she added.

During its Québec partner’s visit, the Malian organization was able to clearly express its needs and expectations. They then reflected together on the possible solutions. “Malian organizations often need help commercializing their products. Among other things, they want to develop a business plan, to improve the quality of their products and to diversify their production, but they lack the required expertise. Many also need computer training, for Excel or PowerPoint, for example”, sais Ms. Baril.

Sending Volunteers
The Québec-based organization accompanies its partners throughout the project’s duration, but precise goals rest upon volunteers chosen for their skills. They are sent to Mali for a few months.

Right now, a shea butter cooperative that is part of the AGVF (Women’s Village Groups Association), a partner of CCI, is welcoming two volunteers. One is there to develop new products, the other takes care of product packaging and new market development. The volunteers are also looking into the possibility of obtaining a fair trade certification. “The AGVF includes many profitable small businesses that could do better. The problem is that people do not know how to achieve this, so our marketing specialists are very helpful”, says Francine Baril.

Of course, volunteers don’t simply decide one day to leave and go to Africa to develop projects. Preparation is required. “Even is we recruit for specific skills, additional training is always appropriate. The volunteer we sent to the shea butter cooperative to develop new products, for example, already was trained in marketing, but we had her spend a few days at a soap factory before her departure, so she would be familiar with the business and so she could get ideas", she adds. An intercultural training is also given to volunteers, to make their transition to life in an African community easier.

Great Project Appropriation
The CCI’s three-way approach is recent, but Ms. Baril said the first reactions are very positive. “The NGOs are thrilled! It is the first time they are consulted throughout each step of a project. Let’s not forget that they themselves choose their Québec-based partner. They evaluate their own needs are then take an active part in project planning and follow-through."

Malian NGOs thus do not feel infantilized and adopt a proactive approach to their own development. “The innovative approach we have elaborated allows the community to appropriate the projects. African NGOs truly feel that they have something to say and things to do," added Ms. Baril.

This approach is only beginning; meanwhile, CCI works on other projects. Among others, it attempts to improve the country’s communications. “We are looking into whether it would be possible to install a tool that would allow teleconferencing, such as Skype’s software. In Africa, Internet is not always readily accessible. In Bandiagara, where the AGVF is based, only one computer is linked to the Internet, and it is located at the town hall! The organizations cannot easily send one simple email message.”

Getting such a project off the ground would require an equipment budget. CCI is working on it, according to Ms. Baril. “It would allow NGOs to organize themselves into solid networks, with more power when defending a point of view at the government level. Setting up better communication tools would be beneficial to Mali’s NGOs and small businesses, which would all of a sudden be connected to one another and to the rest of the world.”