Mali is the third poorest country in the world. That means that the bulk of this population of 11.7 million – 64 percent of whom live below the poverty line – is living on only $0.50 a day. As a result, quality of life is very low: average life expectancy is 47; literacy rates are below 50 percent; infectious diseases like typhoid and diarrhea are widespread.


Click here to watch the Trickle Up Mali video.

But what does that mean for a Malian's daily life? On a micro level, such extreme poverty prevents many parents from being able to properly feed their children: Prior to receiving seed grants from Trickle Up, only 17 percent of participants report having been able to provide their families with three meals per day. But that number rose to 86 percent once participants received Trickle Up seed capital, business training, and savings support.  There is, then, reason to hope.

That's why we set up a field office in Mopti, one of the country's poorest regions. Having a network on the ground enables us to best access those who need us most.

A brief breakdown of Trickle Up participants in Mali shows that:

- 98 percent are female;
- 5 percent have a disability;
- The majority are the sole supporters of their families;
- On average, each participant is responsible for providing for a household of seven.

Since 2004, the average participant has increased her annual income and her annual spending on health care. More than 12,000 participants have started or expanded a Trickle Up microbusiness in Mali. In addition to offering business training and seed capital, Trickle Up supports innovative projects that promote sustainable economic development in the region. One way we do so is through savings groups: since 2004 we have supported the creation of more than 430 savings groups, each of which comprises 25 members.

Once an participant has established her business, she contributes $1 each week to a business-development savings fund.  Members of this cooperative group meet weekly, and they borrow from the fund to invest in their businesses.  Currently, 98 percent of participants are up-to-date on their savings deposits. These women have put away funds in even greater amounts than their initial $100 seed-capital grant from Trickle Up. 

Trickle Up also supports the development of new markets and niche sectors in the region.  For instance, we work with local partners to build unique micro-industries like anise harvesting and food drying.  These efforts help participants to diversify their products and link them to export markets, yielding increased income and an even better quality of life.

Here, in the world’s third-poorest country, our $100 seed grants are making a dramatic impact. The success of Trickle Up participants in Mali shows that Malians have the drive and the ability to provide for themselves and their families – they are only lacking the start-up capital to do so. Click here to help be a part of the solution to poverty in Mali.

Watch the video of our work in Mali!