International Development Grant

Strengthening the Management of Textbook Production and Distribution in Mali

Project Number: CA-3-A034260001

Status: Closed

Country/Region:

Mali 100.00%

Maximum Contribution: $13,184,727.00

Start Date: January 26, 2009

End Date: December 31, 2020

Duration: 11.9 years

Project Description

The project aims to improve the quality of primary education by strengthening stakeholders involved in managing and distributing textbooks and educational material. The project has four components: (1) implementation of Mali's national textbook policy; (2) strengthening of stakeholders in the textbook trade chain (l’Organisation malienne des éditeurs de livres [the Organization of Malian Book Editors]); (3) capacity building in repairing textbooks; and (4) project management monitoring and evaluation. The project allows students in Mali to have access to textbooks compatible with the new curriculum in Mali's national languages and in French. It also aims to better equip decentralized communities to handle textbook management and purchasing.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of March 2018 include: 1) 20 authors and 20 publishers were introduced to textbook writing and editorial chain management; 2) 35 professionals (15 authors including 7 women 12 publishers including 4 women and 8 computer graphics designers including 2 women) were trained in textbook development; 3) the Malian organization of book publishers (l’Organisation malienne des éditeurs de livres - OMEL) received assistance in developing a strategic plan and in planning promotional activities for book publishers including the production of a Malian book catalogue; 4) 343 repairers of which 149 women were trained in textbook repair and are now qualified to exercise their profession; and 5) approximately 1.73 million textbooks have been repaired which represents approximately Can$14 million in savings for the Malian government compared with the purchase of new textbooks. These results are contributing to developing the skills of OMEL publishers and authors and especially to providing girls and boys in Malian schools with repaired textbooks that have a useful life of more than five years.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Government of Mali - Ministry of Education Literacy and National Languages

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
WGM Africa

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Education policy and administrative management 60%
Education facilities and training 40%

Aid Type: Project-type interventions

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 2 Children's issues
Level 1 Youth Issues
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2008-04-01 to 2009-03-31 $13,184,727 CAD
Geographic Information
000
Project Number: CA-3-A034260001