Building Peace and Prosperity through Climate Action in Mali

As the sun rises over central Mali, small crowds gather at village wells, not in desperation but in celebration. The construction and rehabilitation of potable water points has restored access to clean water, ensuring that people are able to quench their thirst, irrigate their crops and live with dignity, even during the harshest dry seasons.

Things were not always like this, as Fanta Coulibaly from the village of Dembala explains: "During the dry season, there's not even enough water to drink. The pumps stop working, and the wells dry up. We have to fetch water from the forest."

Another villager, Maimouna Coulibaly, adds: "Water scarcity stopped us from growing vegetables for the market. We spent our days fighting over water. It was a humiliating situation for us.”

Located in West Africa's Sahel region, Mali ranks 169 out of 187 countries in the global climate adaptation index, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Between 1970 and 2020, Mali experienced 40 major climate shocks, including recurring droughts and floods. Since 1970, droughts in the country are estimated to have affected 400,000 people each year and led to US$9.5 million in lost earnings from agriculture annually.

Climate change has a profound impact on peace and security. As fertile land and water become scarce, competition over these resources intensifies, leading to conflicts that can cause displacement and loss of livelihoods.

This is evident in the tensions between farming communities and pastoralists. As degradation shrinks grazing lands, and farmers expand cultivation into traditional herding routes to cope up with diminishing soil fertility, disputes between the two groups over land and water become more frequent and violent.

Violent extremist groups exploit such grievances to recruit people and deepen instability, amplifying emotionally charged issues of ethnicity, religion, culture and land rights. They also block access to land and deliberately destroy critical infrastructure like water storage structures, impairing people’s ability to adapt to climate stresses.

Women and youth are disproportionately impacted. Women, who are central to farming and household survival, face increased workload as they travel farther for water and fuelwood, while also being at heightened risk of gender-based violence in conflict zones. Nearly 80 per cent of Mali's population is below the age of 35. These young people, facing an uncertain future due to climate change, can fall prey to recruitment by extremist groups.

Addressing this complex nexus of climate, peace and security requires integrated, community-driven solutions. UNDP, with support from the Global Environment Facility, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and the Peacebuilding Support office, is working together with Mali’s government and communities through a range of initiatives to build climate resilience, and ensure peace and security.

A cornerstone of these efforts is strengthening local governance by reviving traditional institutions to manage natural resources inclusively and resolve conflicts peacefully.

Salif Aly Guindo is President of Barahogon, a traditional institution of the Dogon ethnic group revitalized to protect forests and natural resources. “With the scarcity of rain and destruction of forests, we started having conflicts over resources. When the rains did arrive, they caused flooding as the cliffs that protected us eroded due to deforestation," he explains.

"We re-established our traditional laws for sustainable use of forests. Since then, trees and forests have begun to regenerate, reducing conflicts and floods. Now, people in towns like Djénné and Mopti are also following our model.”

By improving climate information services and early warning systems, local authorities and communities are being empowered to anticipate and respond to climate-related shocks. When advanced information about approaching hazards like floods and droughts is available, people can evacuate to safer places, and farmers can take action to protect their crops.

Trainings on assisted natural regeneration, and land and water management are helping farmers and pastoralists adapt to changing climatic conditions. These methods combine modern science with traditional knowledge, ensuring better acceptance by communities.

Establishment of small agri-businesses and cooperatives at village level and access to micro-credit are enabling women and youth to start entrepreneurial ventures, diversifying their income sources and reducing direct pressure on natural resources.

“We want to create several jobs in the agricultural sector by 2030, especially for the youth in rural areas, to reduce rural exodus,” says Maliki Hamadoun Sankaré, a young entrepreneur who launched Socco-Agro-Business to boost local rice and vegetable production, with support from UNDP and the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Through his venture, he aspires to address youth unemployment and make Mali’s food systems more resilient.

These voices of Mali's communities, from forest guardians and women leaders to farmers, represent more than individual stories of hardship and resilience. They embody a collective movement toward climate, peace and security, demonstrating that even in the face of climate change, human ingenuity and solidarity can forge pathways to peace.

This story was originally published here. Read more about the UN's work in Mali here.