| The role played by women in development in the democratization process now taking place in West Africa, especially in Mali, has proved essential. Sexual equality is being acknowledged more and more between men and women in Malian society : the status of women has been increasing in importance while sexual iscrimination has been lessening |
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Within its framework of political agenda to improve socio-sanitary planning, Mali has encouraged the creation of sanitation Economic Interest Groups (GIE) to build the gasps in State services and infrastructure. This system provides certain advantages, in that no start up capital is required and no taxes need to be paid for the first three years. Through this bias, the State of Mali hopes to promote a more transparent and participatory management of liquid and solid waste, and in this way, to raise a sense of responsibility among urban populations concerned with their environment.
One of the necessary conditions for the success and continuation of such a project is the integration and relevant participation of women as fundamental participants of the African family and the society at large. Thus, the first sanitation GIE's were created by women. The first pilot project was set up by a women's cooperative called COFESFA (Women's Cooperative for Sanitation and Family Health).
Despite these groundbreaking initiatives, this case study questions the actual extent to which women's participation is allowed in the more than over a hundred GIE's in Bamako district, Mali.
'In the past few years, GIE's have been multiplying and their number is in constant progress. This situation reveals the interest populations put in services offered by the GIE. Although the first GIE's have been set up by women, a reflection on their part in the new dynamics of liquid and solid waste community management is necessary.'The first phase of this case study aims to analyze the relevance of the role played by women in the creation and management of sanitation economic interest groups in the district of Bamako. The second phase of the case study tries to ascertain why women's participation has been lessening. In order to do so, groups of people were identified for the collection of data concerning their perceptions of women's place and participation in the creation and management of GIE's. Finally, potential inroads have been proposed for the appropriate and efficient participation of women in GIE's.
