Supporting Mali’s Strides in Sustainable Development

Posted May 22, 2026 by Wells Bring Hope Team

By Kris Wallace

February 27, 2026 saw Malian authorities announce the signing of another sustainable development agreement, the nation’s second since 2014. This inspiring action is designed to address Mali’s ongoing safe water access, hygiene, and sanitation challenges which are among the most pressing in the world.

Some key details:

The 2014 agreement met 70% of its rural water access indicators.
84% of areas previously free of open defecation have maintained this status.
This second agreement aims to further improve the general quality of life for the Malian people between now and 2035.
Granting more Malians continuous access to clean water is a primary focus.

The agreement will be a collaborative effort between health, energy, and education sectors and other partners. This decision by the Malian government further strengthens Wells Bring Hope’s commitment to the country. Lasting change is always more attainable with the full-throated support of government authorities, and Wells Bring Hope is thrilled that Mali’s leadership is committing to this kind of effort. Shared responsibility is sure to empower this initiative, but it’s still a huge undertaking since Mali’s population is around 25.7 million and quickly rising.

Breaking Down the Numbers

Perhaps the most vital statistics from this latest pact are that 30% of the previous agreement’s rural water access indicators were unmet, alongside 16% of localities failing to remain open-defecation free (ODF).

This means:

Mali’s rural population is an estimated 12,989,811 so there are still over 3.8 million people without clean water.
Many of Mali’s rural communes continue to struggle without access to functional and sustainable latrines leaving them far more vulnerable to potentially fatal diseases.

Many women and young girls are still forced to gather water from dirty streams. Source: WBH

Those figures show that even with multiple stakeholders dedicated to improving Mali’s prospects, there’s plenty of room for helping hands to keep building on past success.

What Makes Sustainability So Difficult?

Several factors may be hindering long-term water change in Mali. Some of the most impactful are insufficient infrastructure, lack of training and maintenance, and the region’s harsh heat.

Additionally, some of the wells dug by well-meaning but inadequately equipped organizations are too shallow. These efforts aren’t sustainable due to their greater vulnerability to contamination, pollution and drought.

Wells Bring Hope understands the great challenges faced by the Malian government as it strives to create lasting change in the WASH (Water Sanitation and Hygiene) sector. Another factor that sets Wells Bring Hope apart is the knowledge that sustainable transformation comes not from digging wells, but drilling them.

Wells Bring Hope’s Dedication to Sustainability and Maintenance

Creating lasting, manageable change is what we do. Our heavy duty-drilling rigs access aquifers that are 250-300 feet underground and provide a more sustainable source of high-standard water than wells dug at shallower depths.

No more long, dangerous walks for dirty water! Source: WBH

When drilled and managed responsibly these wells can be safely used for consumption, sanitation, and drip farming. Wells Bring Hope’s program maintains momentum and ensures generational transformation by:

Teaching villagers how to build latrines and why using them is vital.
Establishing a maintenance fund for every well and a local committee to oversee it.
Teaching hygiene practices like handwashing after defecation and washing water vessels, both of which dramatically reduce the chances of infection and illness.
Maintaining a regular presence in the villages we work with for 15 years or longer to track progress and ensure the new practices remain in place.

A latrine mold sits ready to make many more Malian communities ODF. Source: WBH

Sustainable Change for Lifetimes to Come

By teaching young girls and boys the importance of maintaining hygiene habits, we’re doing more than building a cleaner present. These children change the future by becoming transformative examples for adults set in the less-sanitary practices of the past.

This type of intergenerational change is perfectly complemented by a collaboration between our partners at World Vision and a very special young girl named Raya from the Sesame Workshop.

It’s great to see things change for the better over time, and it’s wonderful to know that the Malian government and its associates are aiming for the same positive changes over the coming decade. Here’s to Mali’s ongoing empowerment and a water-wealthy world for everyone!

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