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Mali Takes Bold Steps to Strengthen Transparency and Fight Corruption

Bamako, Mali - In its relentless pursuit of transparency and accountability, the Government of Mali has made significant strides in combating corruption with the support of USAID.

Sub-National Governance Program

As part of its Sub-National Governance Program, USAID has been working closely with the Government of Mali to ensure that public funds are delivered effectively and transparently at the regional level. Since 2016, USAID has supported Mali’s Supreme Audit Institution (CGSP) in its fight against corruption by monitoring public spending at both national and sub-national levels.

Key Achievements

  • Update of CGSP’s audit tools to conform to international standards
  • Creation of a Performance Audit Unit equipped with trained and certified auditors and tools
  • Completion of performance audit pilot missions on various regional projects

Embedding Technical Advisers

The Program embeds technical advisers in the Ministry of Economy and Finance to assist their assessments of resource transfers to subnational entities and their utilization, thereby strengthening Mali’s public financial management system.

Citizen Empowerment

USAID’s Civic Engagement Program has also been working to empower citizens by promoting effective civic engagement for improved public accountability. The Program supports:

  • 18 civil society organizations in providing local oversight and accountability of government actions
  • 4 people with disabilities’ organizations in improving citizen participation

Notable Achievements

  • Conducted 69 trainings on transparency, accountability, and advocacy
  • Organized 286 awareness-raising sessions on local governance, accountability, and advocacy

Anti-Corruption Efforts

USAID’s Mali Justice Project is also playing a crucial role in reducing corruption, roadside harassment, and exploitation along key trade corridors. The Project:

  • Targets traders/merchants who encounter potentially predatory government-manned checkpoints through public information campaigns, advocacy, and gender-sensitive legal assistance
  • Established an anti-corruption platform to coordinate between stakeholders and two anti-corruption legal support centers, providing victims of corruption with a voice and a means to seek justice