Country Snapshot: Mali
LDC SME Pulse Survey 2020

Macro-economic Context

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Poverty Rate % (MPI) Human Development Index (HDI) HDI category GNI per capita PPP (US$) Population
0.38 68.33 0.43 Low 2,270 17,994,837
  • MPI & HDI data source: UNDP Human Development Report Office 2019.
  • GNI & Population data source: World Development Indicators, The World Bank 2020.

Status of COVID-19 and the Government Response

COVID cases COVID deaths Stringency Index Gov Response Index Containment Health Index Economic Support Index
2,535 124 47.22 50.64 50.76 50
  • Data based on Oxford University COVID government response tracker.
  • Note: All data are as of 1/Aug/2020. The indexes (0-100) simply records the number and strictness of government policies, and should not be interpreted as ‘scoring’ the appropriateness or effectiveness of a country’s response.

LDC SME Pulse Survey Results

SME Business Profiles

Figure 1: SME response profile by number of employees

Business Sectors

Comparisons of Business Profiles and COVID-19 impact by Business Sector. Only showing sector disaggregation for sectors with more than 4 responses.

Business Sector Count Median Revenue Average Percent Change in Investment Percentage Female-Owned Average layoffs Most Common Intertrade Status
Catering, Tourism 12 $50,000.00 24.50% 40.74% 5 Import and export
Consumer Staples 6 $25,000.00 -3.33% 11.11% 3 Within country only
Finance & Prof Services 5 $60,000.00 1.00% 3.70% 2 Within country only
Industrials 5 $63,000.00 0.00% 14.81% 6 Within country only

Impact of COVID-19 on SMEs

Figure 2: What are the key challenges faced by SMEs (up to 3 choices)

Figure 3: Level of SME business operating capacity

Figure 4: How long are you able to keep your SME business open

Figure 5: Anticipated change in annual revenue

Government and other COVID-19 responses for SMEs

Figure 6: Type of Government Support received to mitigate impact of COVID-19

Figure 7: Average Effectiveness and Accessibility of Government Support


Note: 1 = very ineffective/inaccessible, 5 = very effective/accessible

Figure 8: What are the most needed policies to support your SMEs

Figure 9: What are the reasons for not receiving any COVID government support

International support for COVID-19

Figure 10: Portion of SMEs that received direct support from international entities

Figure 11: Type of direct support received from international entities

Heatmaps on the COVID impact on SMEs

Figure 12: Heatmap of business capacity against most needed policy

Figure 13: Heatmap of revenue change against coping strategies

Data Source

Taking the Pulse of Small Businesses in LDC markets during COVID-19 (2020)
By the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Global Alliance de PME (GAPME), Business Africa, Columbia University: Program of Quantitative Methods in Social Sciences, and Concordia.

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