WASHINGTON, March 26, 2026 - The World Bank approved a $150 million International Development Association (IDA) credit today to ensure the continuity of essential health and education services in Mali. This financing aims to address the climate, security, and economic challenges faced by the country in recent years.
The Emergency Access to Essential Services Project in Mali will support the continued functioning of national and regional health facilities by financing their operational costs, providing essential vaccines and medicines, and free care for women of reproductive age and children under the age of five. It will also build the capacity of health personnel to cope with the growing health risks associated with climate change. In the education sector, the project will intervene throughout the school cycle. It will ensure the provision of teaching materials, school grants to the most vulnerable students, and the organization of national examinations.
This operation contributes to the implementation of the World Bank Group's jobs agenda by ensuring the preservation of human capital.
"By preserving access to health and education services in a context of severe fiscal constraints, this project protects the pool of future workers and their productive capacity," said Clara de Sousa, World Bank Division Director for Mali. " Healthy, educated children and healthy mothers make for a sustainable and productive workforce."
The project will impact 2.3 million beneficiaries who will have access to essential health services, with a particular focus on 1.4 million women and 391,395 children under the age of five. In the area of education, 1.1 million students will receive support for enrollment and access to national examinations in conditions that meet established standards, promoting educational continuity and the development of human capital.
The operation complements development partners' interventions and relies on extensive consultations and dedicated coordination mechanisms to ensure effective and harmonized implementation.
