Strengthening the Mali healthcare network through the Keneya Yiriwali initiative

Major investment to enhance medical services across Mali

The World Bank has officially sanctioned a $100 million credit via the International Development Association (IDA) to bolster the Republic of Mali. This financial support is designed to increase the accessibility and quality of vital medical services, specifically focusing on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health, alongside nutritional support and emergency medical preparedness in high-priority zones.

The Keneya Yiriwali project: A results-driven approach

Known locally as Keneya Yiriwali, the project Promoting a Resilient and Inclusive Health System for All in Mali utilizes a Results-Based Financing (RBF) strategy. The goal is to elevate the standard of essential healthcare delivery, particularly RMNCAH+N services (reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child, adolescent health, and nutrition). By expanding coverage across various levels of the medical infrastructure, the initiative will fund necessary supplies and performance-linked payments to optimize service delivery in targeted schools and regions.

This strategic expansion specifically addresses the needs of communities vulnerable to climate change, regional hospitals, and school-based clinics. There is a significant emphasis on adolescent wellness, pandemic readiness, and managing health crises triggered by climate events. Furthermore, the project intends to refine the efficiency of health sector spending by improving budget management and integrating information systems to link financial resources with measurable outcomes.

Building on previous successes in the health sector

Clara de Sousa, the World Bank Country Director for Mali, noted that the evolution of the RBF model to include climate and emergency risk management is a primary driver for the Keneya Yiriwali project. She highlighted that this initiative builds upon the foundations laid by the Accelerating Progress Toward Universal Health Coverage (PACSU) project, which saw marked improvements in patient satisfaction, drug availability, and care quality across nine administrative areas. According to De Sousa, the RBF mechanism has acted as a catalyst for transformation, empowering local facilities through infrastructure development and the recruitment of local staff.

Collaborative funding and regional expansion

The total financial package for this operation reaches $125 million. This includes the $100 million IDA credit and a $25 million grant from the Global Financing Facility (GFF). Notably, $15 million of the GFF contribution is provided by the government of the Netherlands. This partnership continues the successful collaboration seen during the implementation of the RBF approach from 2020 to 2024.

Luc Laviolette, head of the GFF Secretariat, emphasized that this joint funding ensures a unified effort to improve health outcomes for women and youth. He remarked that investing in a more inclusive and robust system is essential for reaching the most isolated and climate-vulnerable populations in Mali.

The Keneya Yiriwali project is set to benefit approximately 15.4 million people, including 3.4 million women of reproductive age and 3 million children under the age of five. The geographical reach will extend beyond the original PACSU regions—Gao, Mopti, Douentza, Bandiagara, San, Segou, Koulikoro, Dioila, and Nara—to include:

• Tombouctou
• Bougouni
• Koutiala
• Sikasso
• Commune VI of the Bamako district

These new areas have been selected based on their high poverty rates and urgent need for improved health infrastructure. The IDA, established in 1960, remains a cornerstone of the World Bank‘s efforts to assist the world’s poorest nations, providing low-interest loans and grants to foster economic growth and enhance living standards, with a significant portion of its global resources dedicated to Africa.