Thousands of Malians are grappling with the sudden loss of a transformative literacy initiative following significant funding cuts by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The impact is far-reaching, disrupting lives and derailing ambitions in a country already burdened by poverty and political instability.
Eighteen-year-old Aminata Doumbia was among the beneficiaries of the “Shifin ni Tagne” program, a project named after the phrase meaning “our future” in Mali’s dominant local language. The initiative was designed to empower youth through literacy and vocational training, and it had become a beacon of hope for many like Doumbia.
“The joy I felt when I was selected for this project has been replaced by sadness,” she said in an AP report. “I don’t have any hope of realizing my dream (again),” she added, referring to her aspirations of becoming a pastry chef.
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Launched with a five-year, $25 million commitment from USAID, the program aimed to teach nearly 20,000 young Malians to read and write in their native tongues. But following the Trump administration’s decision to slash 90% of foreign aid, the program was abruptly halted.
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According to Sylla Fatoumata Cissé, who leads a Malian government agency focused on nonformal education and national languages, the literacy gap is staggering. “Seventy percent of Mali’s population—roughly 22 million people—hasn’t had the opportunity to learn to read and write,” she said.
The aid cut comes at a particularly vulnerable moment for Mali. In the wake of the 2021 military coup, many European donors also pulled out, leaving Mali with limited support for development programs. The coup ushered in a new junta led by Assimi Goita and shifted Mali’s alliances toward Russia.
The “Shifin ni Tagne” project wasn’t just about literacy. After participants gained reading and writing skills in their native languages, they progressed to hands-on training in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, welding, hairdressing, and pastry-making.
“These skills enable the economically disadvantaged to create jobs for themselves, earn a living or support their families,” said Modibo Sissoko of the Malian Association for Survival in the Sahel, which partnered in implementing the program.
Issiaka Ballo, a University of Bamako professor specializing in native languages, stressed the potential of local-language instruction: “With the teaching of mother tongues, it’s possible to move quickly towards mass literacy among the population.” He added that “only 30% of the population has been educated in French,” which remains Mali’s working language.
The USAID-backed literacy push extended into formal education too, including at institutions like Bamako’s Gaoussou Dabo School, one of 1,000 schools that benefited from the program. Though teachers trained under the initiative continue their work, essential oversight mechanisms like monitoring and evaluation have ceased.
“The funding cut was a big shock for us,” said Amadi Ba, a counselor at the Pedagogical Animation Center overseeing the school.
The blow is more than just operational, it comes at a time when Mali is redefining its national identity. In 2023, the military government designated local languages as the official languages, demoting French to a secondary role. Official documents, including the constitution and mining codes, are now published in national languages.
Cissé warned of the disruption this funding gap may cause. “The USAID cut will certainly have a negative impact on the development of mother-tongue education, especially since it came in the middle of the school year,” she said. “We haven’t even had time to think about a mechanism to cushion the blow.”
For some, the program had already begun to yield economic benefits. In Bamako’s Mountougoula district, 29-year-old onion and eggplant farmer Oumou Traoré shared how literacy in her mother tongue helped improve her business.
“Since I learned to calculate the weight of my onions and keep my accounts in my mother tongue, I’ve started selling my onions myself,” she said. “I now earn $95 instead of the $60 I used to get. This has encouraged me to grow other vegetables.”
As USAID withdraws, experts fear a vacuum that may be difficult to fill. Some warn of growing influence from Russia and its private security affiliates, including the Wagner Group, which has been linked to serious human rights abuses in Mali.
“It will be difficult to find takers for the projects left behind by USAID,” said Fatimata Touré, director of the Research, Study and Training Group, a local civic organization.
For the thousands who once saw a brighter future through literacy and training, the future is once again uncertain.
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