Mali’s 2018-2022 Multi-Year Multi-Partner Protection and Solutions Strategy (MYMPPSS) strives to realize the following goal by 2022: “Refugees, IDPs and returnees access local systems and services and are increasingly self-reliant, while comprehensive and durable solutions are found for at least 40% of the protracted refugee caseload and 60% of the IDPs”. Three strategic objectives are designed to attain this vision: 1) Legislation is in compliance with international standards; 2) 100% of Malian refugees with desire to return have done so in safety and dignity; 3) Refugees are increasingly self-reliant and access national services.
These strategic objectives remain relevant for the Mali operation, despite the change in context observed over the years, including the deterioration of the security and protection situation, an increase in the number of people under mandate, the extension of the crisis-affected area, and further social unrest. It was in this context that the sectoral objectives for 2020 were chosen, taking into account the priorities of UNHCR's Regional Sahel Strategy, Mali's commitments at the Global Refugee Forum and at the High Level Segment on Statelessness, and the conclusions of the Bamako Dialogue of September 2019. Moreover, the activities to support IDPs have been scaled up in line with the Sahel strategy.
Among the main results achieved in line with the MYMPPSS are the following: Intensification of registration operations in the North and in the Centre, which allowed for a better understanding of the needs of the Nigerien and Burkinabe refugee population’s needs and to provide them with appropriate assistance despite access constraints; strengthening of protection monitoring with more visibility within Mali and better data - particularly on return areas - to inform those concerned; launch of the regionally harmonized multi-actor protection monitoring tool project21 to generate comparable data across the Liptako-Gourma zone; significant scale-up of activities in the area of gender-based violence according to a defined strategy including prevention, response and advocacy components with the implementation of mobile teams and a One Stop Centre; major interventions in the area of education to facilitate access for all people of concern through distance education via solar radios and the construction of additional classrooms; training eligibility officers and border officials in refugee status determination for better quality services and to promote greater access to international protection; strengthening the distribution system for provisions for returnees, increasing coordination around urgent needs and intensifying information exchange with countries of asylum.
Mali's pledges at the 2019 Global Refugee Forum are threefold: 1) integration of refugees into national plans; 2) reform of the normative framework; and 3) increasing access to durable solutions. The advocacy actions carried out in favour of the first objective, particularly within the framework of the response plan to COVID-19, the implementation of activities around the Kampala Convention, including information sessions and discussions with authorities, and the training organized on the identification of resettlement cases to promote this durable solution are all activities that have contributed to the realization of Mali's commitments. UNHCR participated alongside the Government in the regional meeting of December 2020 on the implementation of GRF pledges and ongoing support has been provided.