The context
In Mali, the ongoing security crisis since 2012 has caused extremely high rates of gender-based violence that often occur with impunity. The Malian government estimates as many as 89% of women in Mali experience gender-based violence, which can take many forms including beating, sexual assault, genital mutilation, forced marriages, early pregnancies or deprivation to their right to own land. Structural gender inequality and harmful social norms perpetuate the problem. Services for survivors are also extremely limited, with 23 per cent unable to access health care and 56 per cent unable to reach shelters, according to the UN.
Our project
Farm Radio is working collaboration MSI Mali and Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF) to prevent and address gender-based violence and to improve the wellbeing of Malian women in terms of sexual and reproductive health. This project uses a holistic approach to promote progressive changes in the power relations between women and men, with a particular focus on underserved, displaced or disabled women living in Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti and Bamako. It also works closely with regional and national governments to improve the legislative and political environment to promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls
Radio is a critical source of information and dialogue in conflict, and Farm Radio has been working in Mali since 2007. In this project, Farm Radio is leading the radio communication component, and we are developing 12-week radio series in partnership with 12 radio stations that includes dramas on sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence, as well as digital communication tools to enable productive community discussions on these issues.
Results so far
0
Radio stations
0M+
People reached
0K
Women will gain access to family planning servicesGender equality
Our local team in Mali led the formative research to better understand the different roles, rights, needs and opportunities of women and men, the relationships between them, and the gaps and challenges in structures and systems. The project also aims to develop women's leadership by supporting women's groups to engage in local politics through interactive radio. A focus on improving the communication on gender equality between women, girls, boys and men will also help to reduce the socio-cultural barriers that promote gender-based violence and limit women’s access to sexual and reproductive health rights.
🔈 The Hérè "signature tune"
This project is made possible through financial support of the Government of Canada and is led by MSI Reproductive Choices.
Project snapshot
- Duration: 5 years,
- Budget: $4.7M CAD
- Radio stations: 12
- Languages: Bambara, Fula, Songhai
Radio Stations
- Radio Jamana Mopti
- Radio Coton
- Radio Seno 2
- Oxygène 93.2
- Radio Santoro
- Toguna FM 96.1
- Radio Bana Dembé
- Baoulé FM
- Radio Jamana Koutiala
- Radio Kénédougou
- Radio Fouta FM
- Radio Bédiana
- Radio Jamana Djénné
“Women of childbearing age, adolescents and women living with disabilities are not burdens for society. They just need our assistance and our support. Ensuring their well-being means protecting them from all forms of gender-based violence.”
Malamine Traore,
Former FRI Country Representative, Mali
Project goals
Target ultimate outcome:
Improve the well-being of women of childbearing age in terms of sexual and reproductive health and strengthen the prevention and response to gender-based violence in the regions of Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti and the district of Bamako in Mali
Intermediate outcomes:
- Reduction of barriers that promote gender-based violence and limit the use of sexual and reproductive health services by women and girls
- Improved supply and quality of sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence response services
- Improvement of the legislative and political environment at national and regional levels to promote and protect the sexual and reproductive health rights of women and girls
