Project code: MLI/008/001

Background and objectives
In the past decade, the Government of Mali has undertaken numerous efforts to improve urban development and housing conditions in the country. About 94 per cent of the urban population live in unplanned settlements and lack access to basic services such as clean water and sanitation. In implementing the national housing strategy, the government created housing finance and construction instruments and undertook reforms of the housing and lands sector to facilitate construction of houses (about 270000 units in a five-year period).

But access to adequate shelter and land remains a challenge. Informal settlements, which are lacking amenities, are mushrooming around the capital Bamako and the secondary cities. The objectives of this project are to support the government and the National Association of Malian Municipalities to formulate a national policy on slum improvement.

In accordance with the Cities Without Slums plan, the project will

• assess the results of the national housing strategy implemented by the government since 1992.
• develop on a participatory approach, a national Cities Without Slums programme.
• identify opportunities to mobilise public and private investment in slums improvement.
• build the capacities of national and local authorities to prevention and upgrading slums through training, sharing of lessons and best practices.
• document and disseminate the lessons and best practices learned in implementing the programme.

Activities
The main activities include:

• Evaluate the national housing strategy implemented by the government since 1995. The evaluation report to be discussed during a national workshop.
• Assess the slums situation in 17 selected cities including mapping, strategies put in place by government and municipalities to improve the slum situation.
• Formulate a national programme for slum improvement and prevention based on findings.
• Prepare an action plan for operationalising the national strategy on slum improvement, including resources mobilisation strategy to boost public and private sector investment.
• Develop communication and information strategy of the programme for a full participation of government institutions, and local authorities and their associations, private sector, NGOs and CBOs.
• Training sessions for stakeholders
• Document and disseminate lessons learnt and best practices

• Project officially launched on 6 October 2008 during World Habitat Day celebration in the
  city of Kayes.
• National coordinator appointed
• Steering committee established