Dublin, 16 June 2026
Plan International Ireland is highlighting the impact of Ireland’s ongoing support to vulnerable children and communities in Mali, as Mali Country Director Jackson Acha Atam visits Dublin this week and is available for media interviews.
Ireland, through Irish Aid, is a longstanding partner of Plan International Mali, and supports humanitarian and resilience programmes in Mali as part of its Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). Annual allocations of ODA support long-term development programmes, including education, protection, food security, and climate resilience helping to bring about positive change in the lives of people around the world, as well as providing humanitarian support deliver critical assistance to people who need it.
Despite ongoing political, humanitarian and security challenges across Mali and the wider Sahel region, Ireland has maintained a strong commitment to supporting communities most affected by poverty, conflict and climate change. Irish Aid’s approach focuses on food security, nutrition, gender equality, women’s empowerment and climate action, delivered through partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and regional actors.
Plan International Mali’s Country Strategy (2025–2030) aligns closely with these priorities, with a focus on education, protection, economic development and health, creating strong opportunities to further grow Ireland’s impact through both institutional and public support.
A key example of this partnership is SQRIBE (Safe, Quality, Resilient and Inclusion-Based Education), a five-year programme funded by Irish Aid across six countries in West and Central Africa, including Mali. The programme supports vulnerable and marginalised children affected by conflict to access safe, inclusive and quality education.
“Mali is increasingly facing insecurities from non-state armed groups, particularly in the Timbuktu region where the Irish Government is supporting the implementation of the SQRIBE project. Despite this changing humanitarian context, Plan International Mali, with the support of the Irish Government, is working to keep children—particularly girls—in school. An important element of this work is water, sanitation and hygiene. For many adolescent girls, the start of menstruation marks a critical point at which they are at greater risk of dropping out of school. Plan Mali supports this through the provision of infrastructure such as latrines and water stations, the production of locally made menstrual hygiene products, and hygiene management training. This support is vital to ensure that girls in Mali grow up healthy, protected and educated, and can contribute positively to the future of their country.”
Plan International’s work in Mali focuses particularly on protecting the rights of girls and young women, who are disproportionately affected by poverty, displacement, and barriers to education. Through Irish-supported programmes, communities are also building resilience to climate shocks and improving long-term livelihood opportunities.
Jackson Acha Atam’s visit to Dublin provides an important opportunity to highlight both the impact of Irish support on the ground and the continued need for sustained international engagement in the Sahel.
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