IELD is a joint program of UNCDF, UNDP, and UN Women that focuses on women’s economic empowerment (WEE).This global program has been implemented in Mali and a contribution agreement was signed between UNDP Mali and UNCDF in May 2019. UNCDF approach was bridging women entrepreneurs in the capital (Bamako) with economic initiatives from women in the Mopti region.
The objective has been to strengthen value chains across the two regions, helping women in Mopti to increase their economic activities, and find new markets and commercial partners in Bamako. UNCDF has contributed to the women’s economic empowerment through the identification, development, financing and supporting implementation of sustainable and gender-sensitive investments of four types of projects: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Public Administrative Organizations (PAOs), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Banks.
Results: In December 2020, more than 5000 members of the local community benefited from the IELD Mali program. Around 700 women benefited from trainings in the administrative and financial management of projects and companies, in production techniques, in the conservation and drying of market garden and sea products, in gender pleading to better approach local authorities and financial institutions, in inventory management, in digital tools, in banking.
A 1000 of various equipment essential for production, processing, conservation and marketing, were given to beneficiaries (inputs, machines, agricultural tools, machines, fishing boats, motorcycles…) and about 30 infrastructures have been made available to beneficiaries (storage stores, production units, sales kiosks, water tower, water retention basins, solar pumping systems). Governments and local authorities often participate to or lead activities of the pipeline of projects: infrastructure building, trainings, equipment distribution or women’s groups identification. This contribute to strengthen their capacities and encourage them to set up, welcome or support gender-sensitive projects or policies.
