USAID-MALI
DEMOCRATIC GOUVERNANCE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE (DGSO)


Why a Drum?

Traditionally, a drum is often used to call for a gathering to either convey a message or discuss issues within a given community.

 

Historical Background

With the events of March 1991, and the progressive transition to democratic rule, the possibility for the emergence of a true civil society was established. The vision of a civil society representing and defending the interests of Malian citizens in economic, social and political affairs became viable. Not only did the democratic revolution of 1991 change the context within which Malians were able to participate in the development of their country, but it also provided the conditions for Mali's partners to support this new context and, more importantly, to look to the day when donor support would no longer be necessary. For USAID/Mali, this was translated to a vision More Mali Less Aid. A country program strategy was then conceived which sought to promote the goal: Mali achieves a level of sustainable social, economic and political development which eliminates the need for concessional foreign assistance. Each of the Mission's four strategic objectives (SOs) -- Sustainable Economic Growth (SEG), Youth, Democratic Governance (D/G), and Information and Communications (InfoCom) -- were designed to contribute to this larger goal.

The Mission's newly conceived program goal differs from previous Mission efforts in Mali with the addition of a political dimension or objective to the economic and social ones. USAID/Mali has a long history of working with and through non-state actors at the local level and beyond in the pursuit of its program goals and objectives. In the process of developing its new Country Strategic Plan, the Mission , in consultation with its customers and stakeholders viewed this factor as an important comparative advantage and one it should build upon in each of its SOs. USAID considers the community level as the building block of sustainable development. The Mission determined that the most appropriate development strategy in the new democratic context would be to target an integrated program of support to the mushrooming of community organizations (COs). These COs have emerged as a result of the withdrawal of the State from its previous and dominant role in managing all aspects of Malian life. Examples of COs include village associations (AVs); savings and credit associations; students' parents associations; community health center associations and social enterprises (profit-making cooperatives). Thus, USAID is promoting a system of democratic governance in which diverse community organizations --representing and defending the interest of their members -- participate as equal partners in sustainable national development efforts at the local level and beyond. This is both a means to achieving the Mission's program goal, as well as a desirable end in itself. In this sense, the D/G SO is also viewed by the Mission as the principal element (along with gender considerations) cross-cutting other SOs and thus forcing integration and synergy, which are fundamental to the re-engineering effort.

The D/G SO targets those community organizations that undertake democratic self- governance as well as those that undertake civic action at the local village and neighborhood level and beyond. When individual citizens come together in voluntary association and undertake collective action for the public good ?including participation in economic, political and social matters ?? through their community organizations, they contribute to the attainment of sustainable development, the Mission's overall program goal. It is this aspect and focus of community organizations undertaking civic action which distinguishes the D/G SO from other Mission strategic objectives also targeting community organizations in their results framework. Civic action also places this strategic objective firmly in the domain of a democracy and governance program, consistent with the Agency's larger goal of promoting sustainable development.

A reason USAID Mali chose strengthening local level civil society as the focus of its democracy and governance program is to assure the success of decentralization. The Mission believes that substantial progress with this reform will permit its program to impact greatly the consolidation of democratic governance in Mali. Through strengthening the capacity of COs to participate as effective partners in democratic governance, including development decision-making, at the local level and beyond throughout the country, USAID will both strengthen democratic institutions and processes and contribute to sustainable development.

Democratic Governance is the principal focus of this SO. While we have always viewed democratic governance as a desirable end in itself, for the majority of our potential partners and customers, democratic governance must also be seen as a practical development means to meet the social and economic problems that confront them, their families and communities in their daily lives. The primary raison d'être of Malian NGOs, COs and federations is to address and resolve a well-defined collective problem or to advance a shared interest as identified by their members or clients. These could include for example inadequate access to critical social services; lack of micro-credit funding; joblessness or low incomes. The Mission's other strategic objectives address these more material needs. The D/G SO, on the other hand, is based on the premise that in order for COs to be able to effectively provide services to members that address these problems, they must be well managed and democratically governed; and, that when necessary, they must be capable of defending and advancing the interests of their members vis-à-vis government and market interests. The D/G SO must work with and through other Mission SOs to attain its defined results. This is a partnership with inseparable mutual value. The likelihood of other Mission teams achieving their own results -- as well as the overall Mission goal of sustainable economic, social and political development -- will depend largely on the ability of the D/G SO to build the capacity of COs and federations to undertake democratic self-governance and civic action.

For further information about USAID Mali development programs, please visit our web site.

Goal/Strategic Objective
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The USAID Mali Democratic Strategic Objective is " Community organizations in target communes are effective partners in Development Decision-making and planning"

USAID/Mali support the Government of the Republic of Mali 's decentralization prcess.
The main goal is to support and strengthen CommunityOrganizations, located at the heart of Mali's decentralization process. This will be undertaken by strengthening the capacity of community organizations to manage themselves democratically, federate and advocate for changes in government policy.

For more information about Mali Decentralization reform, please visit our web site

Intermediary Results
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The Democratic Strategic Objective has three interelated intermediary results:

IR1-Community Organizations: Target community organizations are engaged in democratic self-governance and civic action at the local level and beyond.

IR2-Decentralization: Effective decentralization occurs by the end

IR3-Enabling Environement: Enabling environement empowers target community organizations, intermediary NGOs and Federations.

For more information about the DGSO framework, please click here

Activities
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The Democratic Governance Strategic Objective (DGSO) activities are
mainly based on providing training and technical assistance to
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community organizations (COs),
and federations of COs. We aim at promoting a system of governance which leads to decisions that advance the collective interest or public good of a given social unit, effectively utilizing available common (or public) resources. Below are our main training themes:

Civic Education and Civic Action training - Democratic Self-Governance,
Effective Management, and Functional Literacy - Micro-funds for Civic Action -
Centers for Civic Education and Action - Civic Organizations Pivot
group/network - Rapid Response Funds