The V4TA Mali programme has also placed particular emphasis on women’s inclusion and participation in public life in Mali, where their participation still cannot be taken for granted. Women also continue to have more limited access to education and employment, despite growing awareness among young people of the need for change in this area.
From the very beginning, ensuring that enough women participate in the programme has been an important pillar of V4T Academy Mali.
Women’s role in public life has been explored in various ways and has been the subject of dialogue, including women’s active participation in politics and the role of tontines, informal savings and credit groups.
Women in politics
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Tontines
The role of tontines, informal savings and credit groups, in strengthening women’s economic and social independence has been explored in places including Cinzana Gare, Ségou.
In Cinzana Gare, tontines are an important way for women to save money, support one another financially, and develop economic activities. Women usually meet weekly and contribute a fixed amount of money. The pooled funds are then distributed to members in turn or used to provide loans. These loans allow women to invest in small businesses, agriculture, livestock farming, or gardening. Women also invest in community projects, such as purchasing a mill for the village. The research also shows that tontines help women contribute financially to their households.
Tontines serve a social function as well as a financial one. They strengthen social ties and solidarity among women. Members support one another during important life events and difficult times, such as marriages, births, illness, and bereavement.
Links to interviews in the archive?
Read the blog ‘La tontine dans l’autonomisation des femmes à Cinzana Gare’ on our website, which explores the research in greater detail. For the research report, click here to read the report on the quantitative study.
In the theatre piece Tièsiri Jala, a dialogue takes place between women and the village chief of Nièle Bougou about the role of tontines in the community. The village chief listens to the women, supports their initiatives, and ultimately recognises their important contribution to the development of the village, as well as the role tontines play in strengthening women’s independence.
Read the synopsis of the theatre play here.
Listen to Fanta Mariko performing a slam piece about tontines.
Slam text, here.
