Together for a New Mali
Mali stands at a crossroads. The building of lasting peace, the consolidation of a democratic State, and the economic and social development are but some of the challenges the country is facing today.
A United Nations stabilisation mission will take over from the decisive action of the international military operations, particularly France and the International Support Mission in Mali under African leadership (Misma). On the political front, the Malian authorities have adopted a roadmap for the transition aimed at establishing a full return to democracy and stability in the country. Elections are scheduled for the month of July. The challenges Mali is facing also weighs on the future of the region, the African continent and, on a wider level, the whole world.
Mali’s destiny is first and foremost in its own hands, but the full support of the international community is crucial. The European Union and France have joined together with Mali to launch a solemn appeal, with one voice, to the entire international community, to participate in the donor conference for the development of Mali and to mobilise all the support necessary for the development and peace in Mali.
President of the European Commission
President of the French Republic
President of the Mali Republic
High-level international conference to support the development of Mali.
A high-level international conference to support the development of Mali, co-chaired by the European Union and France, will be held in Brussels on 15 May 2013. The purpose of this donor's conference is to identify priorities for action for the people of Mali and the international community, to integrate and coordinate support for the development of Mali in 2013-2014.
The presence of the President of Mali, the President of France and the President of the European Commission is confirmed.
Mali is at the heart of the crisis of security and development affecting the Sahel region.
The acting President and the transitional government of Mali have set themselves two fundamental objectives, namely, the restoration of the country’s territorial integrity and the holding of free and transparent elections.
The international military intervention in support of the Malian armed forces engaged in the fight against terrorism, the adoption in January 2013 of a transition roadmap by the legitimate authorities of Mali and the transformation process of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (MISMA) into a UN operation create a new context in which the objectives of the international community, as expressed in particular in the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, are:
(a) support for the full restoration of the constitutional order on the basis of the transition roadmap including the holding of peaceful, credible and unconditional presidential and general elections in 2013 and an inclusive national dialogue; (b) support for the restoration of the authority of the State and the rule of law throughout the country respecting the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali and support for the eradication of groups affiliated to criminal and terrorist organisations;
(c) support, in this context, for the restoration by Mali of all public services and in particular of basic services by implementing a strategy that provides for short-, medium- and long-term measures; (d) support for the return in dignity and in freedom of refugees and displaced persons;
(e) support for the revival of a dynamic of economic and social development which will constitute a fundamental driver to solving the crisis of security and development in the Sahel and Mali in particular.
Following the adoption by the Malian National Assembly of the transition roadmap on 29 January 2013, the EU decided gradually to resume its development aid to Mali.
In these circumstances, the European Union and France proposed to the Malian authorities to facilitate the organisation of the round table of donors provided for under the road map, and which will take the form of an international high-level conference to support the development of Mali.
Objectives of the conference
The international conference is a response to the analysis shared by governmental and non- governmental actors that there will be no development in Mali without security and no security without economic and social development of the country.
The conference aims to integrate and coordinate the international community’s support for the development of Mali in the period 2013-2014. The presentation by the Malian authorities of priority development axes will make it possible to align the support programmes for the development of Mali drawn up and implemented by the national stakeholders and international governmental and non-governmental actors involved in Mali.
This event will be open to the bilateral and multilateral donors, States and international institutions.
Mobilisation around an action plan for 2013-2014
The Malian Government will present a strategic document for 2013-2014 based on the current multi-annual national development strategy (CSCRP 2012-2017), covering the political economic, social and environmental dimensions. This document will form part of the implementation of the transition roadmap.
The invited delegations will receive a preliminary version of the Malian Strategy Paper in order to prepare their commitments and to be able to make firm announcements during the conference.
This document will be based on an assessment of the needs and the economic and social damage caused by the situation that has prevailed over the last twelve months, including in the area of infrastructure and agriculture. It will present an analysis of the structural vulnerabilities and the elements of resilience of the country and will identify the short- and medium-term financing needs.
Beyond the immediate challenges linked to humanitarian aid, human security, voluntary return and resettlement of displaced persons and refugees and the restoration of basic social services throughout the country, it is necessary to define the support measures in priority areas such as support for decentralisation and the balanced development of the region, justice, the rule of law, management of public finance, support for the private sector, agriculture and food security, employment, migrant remittances, adaptation to climate change, education, health and culture.
In the interests of ownership and alignment of the aid, the conference will be an opportunity for the partners of Mali to support the action plan in a predictable and coordinated way, in the spirit of joint programming initiated before the crisis.
In addition to national and international public funding, particular attention will be paid to mobilising the resources of the private sector inside the country and the resources of the diaspora in order to support economic recovery, a sustainable and endogenous lever out of poverty.
Finally, the conference will give all due importance to the regional dimension of the response of the international community, by proposing possibilities for regional cooperation.