Capacity Building for Women's Participation in Local Governance in the Kati District

Republic of Mali

Amount: € 240,765.00

Overview

The GAAS (Group d’animation action au Sahel Mali) project strengthened the economic capacity of women traders based in Mali, engaged in cross-border trade with Burkina Faso and transregional marketing of fish. It also developed measures to protect women traders against violence on the routes to market. Training was reinforced and the payment of medical fees for those undergoing treatment arising from previous incidents of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and control of HIV /AIDS infections was undertaken. This project is clearly aligned to Aspiration 1 of the AU’s Agenda 2063 which envisions a prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, as well as the goal to end all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls and ensure all their human rights outlined in Aspiration 6.

Key Results

• GAAS-Mali strengthened the economic capacity of women traders based in Mali, engaged in cross-border trade with Burkina Faso and transregional marketing of fish. It also developed measures to protect women traders against violence on the routes to market.
• In Mali, cross-border trade with Burkina Faso, principally in fish and fish products, is pursued largely through the work of women informal traders. As well as needing better business skills in order to market produce more profitably, marketing exposes women informal traders to potential danger as they follow traditional cross-border trade routes.
• This project also empowered woman with administrative knowledge, financial management skills and the use of management tools. The project also made the payment of medical fees for those undergoing treatment arising from previous incidents of GBV and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and control of HIV/AIDS infections.
• The project identified the need for women to register with local trade associations and 51 women were registered.