Mali - Health Care and Nutrition - Development and Peace - 2016

February 2016 - Mali continues to face a multidimensional crisis characterized by conflict displacement and chronic food insecurity and malnutrition. An estimated 2.3 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2016. This includes over 60 000 internally displaced people who are struggling to access food water health care education and restore their livelihoods. Persisting insecurity and a lack of basic services in the country’s north also continues to deter the return of over 140 000 Malian refugees in neighbouring countries. This insecurity is expected to continue to constrain the ability of humanitarian actors to reach affected populations in 2016. With DFATD’s support Development and Peace is helping to protect and assist up to 13 700 conflict-affected people in the Tombouctou region. Project activities include: (1) training community health workers and mother-to-mother groups in community management of acute malnutrition; (2) providing support to families with children referred for treatment of severe acute malnutrition; (3) rehabilitating 30 water points; and (4) providing hygiene kits and sensitizing communities on best practices.

The expected immediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved capacity of communities and households to prevent and manage responses to acute malnutrition; and (2) improved access to safe water and hygiene services. The expected ultimate outcome is lives saved suffering alleviated and human dignity maintained in countries experiencing humanitarian crises or acute food insecurity.