A deepening humanitarian crisis
The convergence of armed conflict, economic disruption, and growing instability are rapidly deteriorating the humanitarian situation in Mali. The crisis further strained civilian livelihoods, enhancing the challenges faced by the most vulnerable individuals, especially women and girls.
Most recently, a severe fuel shortage caused by the activities of armed groups triggered a sharp increase in fuel prices and paralyzed supply chains across several regions. This put significant pressure on the delivery of basic services, limiting the operation of healthcare centres and of mobile medical teams, isolating entire communities. Health facilities reliant on generators struggled to remain functional, with critical implications for sexual and reproductive assistance services. Similarly, an increase in armed violence led to growing instability and a deterioration of the security environment in the Central, Southern, and Northern regions. The civilian communities living in these areas suffered the most from the escalation, experiencing forced displacement, disrupted livelihoods, and undermined social cohesion. Against this backdrop, humanitarian actors, including the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a leading provider of gender-based violence (GBV) services, are operating under intense strain in an attempt to minimise the downfalls.
Addressing sexual and reproductive health and gender-based violence
UNFPA and its partners’ response has focused on sustaining essential services, with particular attention to women and girls in the regions of Ségou, San, and Bandiagara, where displacement and insecurity have severely limited access to healthcare. Sexual and reproductive health interventions have aimed to preserve continuity of care despite access constraints, relying on a combination of fixed facilities, community-based midwives, and mobile outreach teams.
The deployment of community midwives has strengthened frontline service delivery by ensuring the presence of skilled health personnel in underserved facilities. Around 895,000 women have been able to access antenatal and postnatal care, family planning services, and assisted deliveries. These interventions reduced preventable maternal and neonatal mortality while helping restore a measure of stability and trust in health systems weakened by conflict. For displaced women, in particular, the availability of reliable maternal care mitigated some of the risks associated with forced movement and precarious living conditions.
Mobile medical teams have played a complementary role by reaching displaced and remote populations who would otherwise remain excluded from care. By bringing lifesaving services directly to communities, these teams have helped bridge gaps created by insecurity and poor infrastructure. The distribution of clean delivery kits has further improved safety and hygiene for women giving birth in both home and facility settings, reducing the risk of infection.
Alongside reproductive health services, the response to gender-based violence has remained a core priority, targeting around 934,000 people. Conflict-related displacement and pervasive insecurity have increased exposure to violence, while at the same time limiting survivors’ ability to seek help. One Stop Centers have been established across several regions to provide integrated medical, psychosocial, and legal assistance, enabling survivors to access comprehensive care and proving particularly important in conflict environments, where fragmented services and fear of retaliation can discourage reporting.
Preventive and protective measures have also been central to the response. The distribution of dignity and menstrual kits has helped address immediate needs while reinforcing a sense of dignity and personal security. Safe Spaces established in Ségou, Djenné, Ansongo, Timbuktu and Gao have offered protected environments where women and girls can receive psychosocial support, build life skills, and engage in activities aimed at economic empowerment. In a context of chronic insecurity, such spaces contribute to resilience by reducing isolation and strengthening social networks.
Strengthening coordination mechanisms
Effective humanitarian action in Mali also required strong coordination among the many actors operating in an increasingly complex environment. Efforts have focused on reinforcing inter-agency collaboration, improving accountability, and standardizing approaches to protection, particularly in relation to gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).
The completion of the technical review and validation of national Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of, and response to, GBV and SEA, established clear referral pathways, confidentiality, and the alignment of services with international standards. For civilians affected by violence, the harmonization of practices across organizations helps reduce gaps in care, minimizing the risk of retraumatization.
UNFPA has also contributed to broader analytical and advocacy initiatives aimed at understanding emerging protection risks. An inter-agency study on women’s and girls’ street begging has highlighted the intersection between economic hardship, displacement, and exposure to exploitation in urban areas. By integrating sexual and reproductive health and GBV perspectives into the analysis, the study seeks to inform more comprehensive and evidence-based responses to this phenomenon, which reflects deeper structural vulnerabilities exacerbated by conflict and insecurity.
At the strategic level, UNFPA’s leadership of the sexual and reproductive health working group has ensured that these priorities are integrated into national planning processes. Engagement in the development of Mali’s 2026 Humanitarian Programme Cycle has allowed for the identification of key objectives and indicators that reflect the specific risks faced by civilians, particularly women and girls, in conflict-affected settings.
Civilian protection amid funding constraints
Despite these efforts, however, funding shortages have significantly limited response capacity. Of the US$16.5 million required to sustain UNFPA humanitarian operations in Mali, only 35% of the funds - around US$5.9 million - have been secured. The remaining funding gap represents a significant threat to the continuity and scale of operations, instrumental in maintaining core activities.
This shortfall has direct implications for civilians. Without adequate funding, mobile teams may be grounded, health facilities may be unable to function, and protection services for survivors of violence may be scaled back or suspended altogether. For women and girls already affected by displacement and chronic insecurity, the loss of these services would further erode their safety and well-being.
Closing the funding gap is therefore a matter of civilian protection. Sustained investment is essential to ensure that those most affected by Mali’s protracted conflict can access the care, protection, and support they need to survive and rebuild their lives.
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