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.

 

The purpose of the democratic governance (DG) activity is to assist community organizations to become effective development tools in targeted local government entities, called "communes". Effective democratic governance also aims at strengthening community organizations' capacity to influence public decision-makers in the planning of development activities. USAID focuses on two major areas of intervention in Mali: (1) helping targeted community organizations to engage in democratic governance and civic action, primarily at local levels; and (2) helping to put in place an enabling environment that empowers community organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and federations to carry out civic actions and to actively participate in determining public decisions.

USAID Mali -provides community organizations with training and technical assistance, and with limited direct support for civic action. Targeted community organizations are receiving this type of democratic governance assistance through USAID-supported private voluntary organizations. To ensure sustainability, USAID strengthens the internal democratic governance and institutional ability to undertake civic actions of local nongovernmental organizations, federations, and local community organizations. USAID is identifying, analyzing and addressing constraints in existing laws, regulations and policies affecting community organizations, larger civic action groups, and federations. USAID supports civic education campaigns on decentralization, as well as laws and policies that empower community organizations. Major beneficiaries are the people involved in community organizations at the village and the "commune" levels of local government.

For the last three years USAID Mali thorugh it DGSO has made a remarkable contribution to the Mali decentralization and democratization process. The DG program has enhanced the freedom of individuals at the local level to associate with like-minded individuals who share common interests, to publicly express their views, debate the public policy and challenge their institutions at the local level and beyond.

However, while working with Malian women's organizations, USAID discovered that they tend to score higher on the internal democracy and sound management indices than groups with mixed gender membership, while tending to contact Malian government officials less frequently. When they do contact Malian government officials, women's groups are less successful at influencing decisions than the mixed gender groups.

Today, USAID Mali aims to increase women's contribution to public decision-making process. In 1998, in collaboration with the National Democracy Institute (NDI), USAID delevoped a program on "Women in Politics in Mali". The main purpose was to encourage more malian women to take interest into politics. A small booklet has been developed. Twenty women from different socio-economic background and age groups have been interviewed to share their experiencedescribing the process to examine the reasons for this to identify what interventions can be developed to better resolve the problem. When women exercise their rights, significant progress has been achieved.

To refresh your memories on Women and Political Participation, please click here

Under the Education for Development and Democracy Initiative (EDDI) USAID DGSO developed a on year internhip program.

The DGSO in collaboration with World Learning and Amex, Int. targeted one hundred graduate young women from the field of law, social science or similar fields. The main purpose of the program is to enhance women's leadership skills. They are being placed in various governmental and non-governmental institions.
1) Sixty (60) at the Communal Level;
2) Fifty (15) at the National Assembly;
3) Fifty (15) at the Judiciary
4) Ten (10) with local NGOs.
Please Click here, for more information about the EDDI program.