The World Bank has greenlit a 100 million dollar credit from the International Development Association (IDA) to bolster Mali’s healthcare system, focusing on universal access to essential services and emergency preparedness in targeted regions.
Leveraging the results-based financing (RBF) approach, the Keneya Yiriwali project (meaning “Health for All” in Bambara) aims to elevate the quality and availability of critical reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, adolescent, and nutritional (RMNCAH+N) services. By expanding coverage across the healthcare pyramid—including regional hospitals, school clinics, and climate-vulnerable communities—the initiative will fund performance-driven payments and essential inputs in high-priority areas. A key focus includes adolescent health, climate-induced health risks, and pandemic preparedness, while optimizing budget efficiency through streamlined financial management and integrated information systems.
« The expansion of RBF, incorporating climate and emergency risk management, is central to delivering high-quality healthcare to Mali’s most vulnerable populations under Keneya Yiriwali, » stated Clara de Sousa, World Bank Country Director for Mali. « This builds on the success of the Accelerating Progress Toward Universal Health Coverage (PACSU) project, which significantly boosted healthcare utilization, service quality scores, drug availability, and patient satisfaction across nine regions. »
The total funding for this initiative reaches 125 million dollars, combining the IDA credit with a 25 million dollar grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF)—including a 15 million dollar contribution from the Government of the Netherlands through a joint GFF partnership. This collaboration has already demonstrated the transformative impact of RBF in Mali since 2020, as part of the PACSU initiative.
« With continued support, the GFF grant and Dutch co-financing will reinforce Mali’s commitment to strengthening health services for women, children, and adolescents, » noted Luc Laviolette, Head of the GFF Secretariat. « Investing in resilient and inclusive health systems ensures that even the most remote and climate-affected communities receive the care they need. »
The project targets over 15.4 million people, including 3 million children under five and 3.4 million women aged 15–49. Coverage extends beyond the original PACSU regions—Gao, Mopti, Douentza, Bandiagara, San, Ségou, Koulikoro, Dioïla, and Nara—to new high-poverty areas such as Tombouctou, Bougouni, Koutiala, Sikasso, and Bamako’s Commune VI.
The International Development Association (IDA) is the World Bank’s arm dedicated to assisting the world’s poorest nations. Since its 1960 inception, it has provided grants and low-interest loans to drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve living standards in 76 of the poorest countries—39 of which are in Africa. IDA’s resources have positively impacted 1.6 billion lives globally, with an average annual commitment of 21 billion dollars, 61% of which supports African nations.
