REGIONAL BACKGROUND Mali is amongst the poorest and most unstable countries in the world. GDP is less than $700 per year (at 2012 prices), and the country has been beset by civil war since January 2012, when Tuareg rebels took control in northern Mali, and declared the secession of a new state. In 2013 the French entered Mali following signs that the rebels were beginning to push into the centre of Mali. Operation Serval is still ongoing, and aims to oust all Islamic militants from the north. The key industry in Mali is agriculture, which employs around 80% of Malian workers. Seasonal labour demand leads to regular temporary unemployment for millions, and malnutrition is a serious problem in rural areas, particularly amongst women and children. Provision of health and education services in Mali remain poor; school enrolment is low, and literacy rates are around 30%. Mali’s health and development indicators rank amongst the worst in the world., and life expectancy has been stagnant at around 53 years for a decade. A further problem for the country, as with others in the Sahel region, is the strong division between the lighter- skinned Arab-Berber population of the north and the black populations of the south. This racial and religious conflict continues to play a part in the ongoing violence. The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and Islam as practiced before 2012 was moderate and tolerant. Since the 2012 imposition of Sharia law in northern parts of the country, however, Mali has been listed as number 7 in the Christian persecution index. PROJECT BACKGROUND The district of Dioungani is an extremely remote rural area of eastern Mali. Most earn their living by growing millet and by raising cattle; this district was formerly the breadbasket of the surrounding region. Since 1985, however, there has been very little rain and local farmers have been unable to grow enough for their own needs, let alone enough to sell to neighbours The water table has fallen so low that farmers are no longer able to grow hand-watered crops in the dry season. PROJECT AIMS Joliba Trust is a small Mali-based organisation supporting grassroots development work with rural farming communities in Mali. It has run successful microcredit schemes for over 20 years. There is a waiting list of communities looking to join the scheme, and Joliba is looking to expand its work. The aim is to set up microcredit projects for women’s groups. These women want to start growing sesame, which provides significant profits from the oil and seeds, and is also rich in calories, making it a good food source during the dry season. This should help to decrease rates of malnutrition amongst children, which are currently very high. HOW YOU HAVE HELPED The money that you have given through The Besom has been used by Joliba Trust to set up 6 communities. Each has a management committee of 7-9 members, and will be given a loan to grow sesame in a collective field. Each individual in the group will also receive £2.50-£7.50 for her own trading/market activity. In addition, support will be provided by community workers to help augment the technical and management capacities of the group, and women will come together to share experiences and share best-practice around farming and livestock management. The Joliba Trust Setting up 6 revolving credit associations, Mali THE BESOM sweep away suffering Registered Charity No OV8883 – Joliba Trust Onions grown with seed credit