“I've never received such support in my life"

In the Bandiagara region of central Mali, the conflict is causing the livelihoods of several indigenous groups to stagnate. As certain traditional means of survival are no longer sufficient, people are trying to cope with the crisis. Kassoum, 67-year-old, lives with his family of six in the commune of Wadouba. He said that he often lacks the financial resources to meet his family's needs, and it was not the case before the conflict.

"Agriculture is my main activity and my income is mainly based on this sector. I grow mainly millet in my field. Sometimes I have good harvests, but often it's the other way around. Last year, for example, despite a good rainy season, I didn't have a good harvest because the weeds invaded my crops. I didn't have enough money to buy herbicides”, he said.

Since 2023, World Vision has been implementing an integrated emergency food security and nutrition project in partnership with Aktion Dutch Hilft. The aim is to meet the humanitarian needs of displaced people and host families affected by the food insecurity crisis in Mali, and to build their resilience to future shocks.

Cash distributions are one of the project's activities ans it is effective in four communes (Djenne, Dandougou Fakala, Dandoli and Wadouba communes) in central Mali. These distributions reached 600 households (host and displaced) in central Mali including Kassoum’s.

"When the ADH project came to our village to provide aid, the head of the village gave my name, as beneficiairy. That's how I was chosen as one of the beneficiaries. The day I found out that I had been selected to receive the money, I couldn't believe it especially when I received the first instalment of XOF 55,100 ", he said.

According to Kassoum, the money he received was very useful because it enabled him to buy food.

"This project helped me 6 times in 12 months. Each month, I received 55100 CFA. When I received the first grant, I rushed to buy a 100 kg bag of millet so that my whole family could share the good news.”  

The head of the family continues: "The following month, I received a second instalment for the same amount. I took a 50 kg bag of rice and bought school supplies for my little daughter, who goes to school."

Kassoum was able to use his money to set up a small income-generating livestock business and he is very proud of it, and he is feeding his family and paying his daughter's school fees.

"Thanks to the 3rd and 4th instalments, I was able to save up to buy a male sheep to add to the two females I already have. I hope that they will multiply a lot so that I can turn them into a small income-generating activity to help me provide for my family. I've never had such support in my life,” he said  before adding. “My family and I would like to thank World Vision and ADH for helping us with the cash. We hope they won't let us down."