Beyond Training: How Mali’s School for Women Leaders is Cultivating a New Generation of Change-Makers

In a strategic move to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in Malian public life, the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD), with crucial funding from Swiss cooperation, has successfully concluded a landmark initiative: the School for Women Leaders. The program empowered 105 young women from key regions—Mopti, Timbuktu, Ségou, Koutiala, and the Bamako district—equipping them not just with skills, but with a shared vision for the future. The project’s culmination was a high-level symposium held at the Maeva Palace Hotel on December 12-13, 2025, where participants and organizers convened under the resonant theme: “Female Leadership and Citizenship: Building an Inclusive and Peaceful Society.” The outcome was more than a ceremony; it was the formal drafting of a strategic memorandum, a blueprint for action to be carried forward by the graduates.

The school’s curriculum was meticulously designed to be both comprehensive and practical. Core modules moved beyond theoretical concepts to address the real-world barriers women face:

• Female Leadership & The History of Women’s Struggles: This provided essential context, connecting participants to a legacy of resilience and framing their personal ambitions within a broader historical and social movement.
• Media Literacy & Advocacy: In an era of misinformation, this module taught women how to craft compelling narratives, engage with the press, and shape public opinion to advance their causes.
• Negotiation Techniques & Dialogue: Critical for navigating male-dominated political and community spaces, these skills empower women to secure resources, build consensus, and mediate conflict.
• Entrepreneurship: Recognizing that economic independence is a cornerstone of political agency, this training provides a pathway for women to gain financial autonomy, which in turn fuels their ability to engage in public service.

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As NIMD Country Director Ms. Célia D’Almeida articulated, the program’s goal is systemic: “The School for Women Leaders aims to contribute to improving the strategic participation of women in community, municipal, and regional public governance.” She emphasized that this is not merely a one-off training but a project to “build a community of young girls and women who foster mutual aid and innovative initiatives,” thereby creating a multiplier effect to significantly increase female influence at all levels of society.

Sustaining Momentum: The Critical Phase of Post-Training Support

Understanding that training alone is insufficient, NIMD has embedded a robust support structure to ensure the women’s ideas become reality. The academy’s work continues long after the classroom sessions end. NIMD commits to ongoing coaching, helping leaders transform their knowledge into tangible community, social, and economic projects. This includes:

• Technical and Material Support: Direct assistance to launch or scale initiatives.
• Mentorship Networks: Pairing graduates with established, recognized entrepreneurs (their “elders”) for guidance, opening doors, and providing role models.

This holistic approach ensures women become true agents of change, equipped to strengthen local governance and public affairs management.

The Memorandum: A Collective Manifesto for Action

The symposium’s most powerful output was the memorandum, read by a beneficiary from Timbuktu. This document transcends a simple summary; it is a formalized action plan co-created by the 105 leaders. It honestly diagnoses key challenges:

• Deep-Rooted Gender Stereotypes that limit perceptions of women’s capabilities.
• The Gap Between Law and Practice: The non-application and violation of existing texts and commitments meant to protect and promote women’s rights.
• The “Double Burden”: The systemic difficulty women face in balancing socio-professional ambitions with domestic and personal responsibilities.

In response, the memorandum proposes concrete advocacy actions:

• Creating formal collaboration frameworks with traditional and religious leaders, politicians, and NGOs to build a powerful, cross-sector advocacy network.
• Strategically identifying and involving key decision-makers to champion and implement laws on women’s participation.
• Promoting leadership not only among women but also actively engaging their male peers as allies in the fight for inclusivity.

These outlined steps move the conversation from identifying problems to implementing solutions, focusing on building the inclusive and peaceful society named in their theme.

Kada Tandina
Mali24.info