Educatie What we do Support us
menu
Donate
close
Mali Nieleni

Niéléni: strong women who are changing Mali

June 23, 2026

Salimata Sacko busy at her house. (c) Mali Join For Water

Mali – In Mali, environmental and water issues have for decades been viewed primarily through a male, often Western, lens. But Join For Water is changing that: through training and awareness-raising, women are beginning to claim their place in decision-making and in the management of land, water and natural resources. These women are the Niéléni — literally ‘fighting women’ — and they are taking matters into their own hands, just like the Woria in Uganda or the Cuidadoras in the Andes.

Who are the Niéléni?

The Niéléni are women’s groups that are officially recognised in five villages and consist of motivated women who receive training in:

  • climate adaptation and sustainable agriculture
  • water-saving agricultural practices
  • restoration of degraded soil and ecosystems
  • leadership and advocacy
  • their rights to land and property.

Female representatives also take part in policy planning at village, municipal and even national levels. In this way, their voices and experience finally carry weight in important discussions about water, food security and climate change.

They become ambassadors of change and build sustainable communities in which everyone has rights.

An active role in local development

Mali-Nieleni-Vorming
Training session for the Niéléni. (c) Join For Water

The Niéléni learn about their rights, have their skills strengthened and receive support from the community. They take an active role in local development.

Through vegetable growing, fish farming and the sale of produce, women not only strengthen their economic autonomy but also generate new income for their families and villages.

Salimata Sacko, a member of the Niéléni group in Tangala, explains just how significant the change is:

“Thanks to Niéléni, we have been made aware of our rights. Our women’s collective has 100 members. Thanks to the training, we have been granted an extra hectare of land by the village chief and the municipality. The vegetable garden next to the dam now covers 20 hectares. Everyone in the village benefits from it.”

Salimata is a fine example of how training can lead directly to tangible changes: more land, more food, more security and more respect.

Mali-Nieleni-Salimata-Sacko

Testimonial

The activities with Niéléni have opened our eyes to our rights. Thanks to the training, we had the confidence to approach the local council to ask for a larger plot of land on which to grow our vegetables. The whole village is benefiting from this.

Salimata Sacko, Farabana, Mali
Mali Nieleni Fatoumata Coulibaly

Testimonial

The training sessions provided a platform to challenge stereotypes about women and leadership. We are taking our message to the streets to raise awareness amongst both women and men: women’s rights are non-negotiable.

Fatoumata Coulibaly, president of a group of Niéléni, Mali

Breaking down stereotypes

The Niéléni are not just trained to manage vegetable gardens, water points or ecosystems. They receive training in leadership.

Fatoumata Coulibaly is chairwoman of a Niéléni group and is convinced:

“The training sessions were a means of breaking down stereotypes surrounding women and leadership. We go to the market to raise awareness among women and men: women’s rights are non-negotiable.”

With more than a thousand women trained, the movement is growing rapidly and is gaining recognition from local and national authorities.

In Farabana, the impact is visible every day, says Naniouma Keita:

“Access to water was our biggest problem, but thanks to the Niéléni, that has been solved. We used to work with 40 women; now there are 140 of us. We have money for healthcare and school for our children.”

Support from the men

The Niéléni are trained in water-saving farming, composting, erosion control and the sustainable management of vegetable gardens. In this way, they become indispensable partners in the fight against drought and land degradation.

“The Niéléni have changed the way we think about environmental protection. Thanks to the training, we now have the courage to demand our rights,” says Hawa Diakité, vice-chair of the Niéléni group in Faraba.

One example is the campaign against the seizure of a vegetable garden for the construction of a mobile phone mast.

The men are also involved, as evidenced by the testimony of Fatoumata Sidibé:

“Our land was in poor condition and we didn’t know that women have rights to land, education, healthcare… Thanks to the training on soil restoration and rights, we are now represented in every village association. The men even support us when it comes to buying land.”

Women driving change

The Niéléni are now also active at local and national levels. They take part in consultations on food security, water policy and climate justice. Awa Traore is responsible for ‘gender’ within the Join For Water team. She sees how women are growing into their roles:

“Today, the Niéléni are no longer just local actors, but leaders who are ready to shape the future of women’s rights in Mali.”

The movement proves that when women are given the resources and opportunities to learn, speak out and take on leadership roles, entire communities become stronger. The Niéléni are the driving force behind change.

Mali Awa Diakite

Testimonial

The Niéléni have changed the way we think about environmental protection. Thanks to the training, we now have the courage to stand up for our rights.

Awa Diakite, vice president of a group of Niéléni, Mali
Nieleni Mali-Ngnouma-KEITA

Testimonial

Access to water was our biggest problem, but thanks to Niéléni, that’s been sorted. We used to work with 40 women; now we work with 140. We have money for healthcare and school for our children.

Naniouma Keita, Farabana, Mali

Support the women in Mali

Give more women the opportunity to develop their skills and have a say in water management.

Yes, I want to donate