WASHINGTON, March 26, 2026 – The World Bank has given its approval for a 150 million dollar credit from the International Development Association (IDA), earmarked to guarantee the sustained provision of crucial health and education services across Mali. This financial injection aims to tackle the multifaceted climatic, security, and economic challenges that the nation has confronted in recent years.
The Emergency Access Project for Essential Services in Mali will underpin the ongoing operations of national and regional healthcare facilities. This includes funding their running costs, ensuring the supply of vital vaccines and medicines, and providing free medical care for women of reproductive age and children under five. The initiative will also enhance the capabilities of health personnel to address the escalating health risks associated with climate change. In the education sector, the project will offer support throughout the entire academic journey, providing educational materials, granting school subsidies to the most vulnerable students, and organizing national examinations.
This undertaking contributes directly to the World Bank Group’s employment agenda by safeguarding human capital.
“By preserving access to health and education services within a context of severe budgetary constraints, this project protects the pool of future workers and their productive capacity,” explained Clara de Sousa, the World Bank Group’s Country Director for Mali. “Healthy, educated children, alongside healthy mothers, form a sustainable and productive workforce.”
The project is projected to impact 2.3 million beneficiaries who will gain access to essential health services, with a specific emphasis on 1.4 million women and 391,395 children under the age of five. Within the realm of education, 1.1 million students will receive crucial schooling support and access to national examinations under established conditions, thereby fostering uninterrupted educational continuity and the development of human capital.
This operation complements the efforts of development partners, drawing upon extensive consultations and specialized coordination frameworks to ensure efficient and synchronized implementation.
