The aim of this paper is to analyse European Union policies in the field of hunger and poverty in third countries from the Malian point of view. The aim is to critically analyse the actions of EU taken in Mali to fight hunger and poverty.
The European Union is argued to be the major donor of external assistance, with more than half of the world’s official development aid. The European Commission is organised in General Directorates (DGs), the one involved in Hunger and Poverty fight is the International Cooperation and Development DG. EU, as a global actor, has relations with almost all the countries in the world and Mali is one of these. The controversy in the case of Mali is that this country has an enormous inner potential and could be a wealthy country, just think about the mineral resources, but the reality is that Mali is one of the poorest countries of the world.
The country is traditional split in two, Arabic populations live in the north, while Sub-Saharans in the south. Mali`s internal conflict and instability is growing, armed groups coming from the north of the country carry out attacks and move forward to the centre. In order to understand the problems, challenges and most controversies of the EU actions in Mali it is important to understand what the EU has done so far.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. EU International Cooperation and Development
3. EU and Mali Cooperation
4. Food Security Thematic Programme
5. FSTP in Mali
5.1. Running projects
6. Criticism
7. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines European Union policies regarding hunger and poverty within the context of international cooperation, specifically focusing on the actions taken in Mali from the perspective of the Malian government to assess their effectiveness and strategic alignment.
- Analysis of the EU's role as a major donor and its policy framework for development.
- Examination of the Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP) and its application in Mali.
- Evaluation of specific projects, including cashew production and fishing industry support.
- Critical review of aid effectiveness, transparency, and the influence of political/military interests.
- Discussion of development theories in relation to current EU interventions.
Excerpt from the Book
6. Criticism
According to Mahmoud Cheibani, a teacher at a Timbuktu secondary school, “we are poor not because of a lack of aid, we are poor because aid does not reach the targeted populations.” (Irin, 2013) This can be considered as a critic to both, Mali and the EU.
The main problem is the lack of external control. Who does control and monitor the outcomes, the budget, the finances? The EU itself says that there is still a lot to do in this field. (European Union, 2006: 18) Another problem is the lack of data, for information about running projects are easy to find on the website of the Commission, but is not so easy to find the outcomes. In fact, according to the author Carbone, the EU policies are mainly concentrated on the process, rather than the outcome. (Carbone, 2016: 33) Another critic is that the EU has a technocratic approach focussed on the institutional mechanisms, this is the reason why the results are not so good as expected. (Carbone, 2016:
According to an interesting critic of Medicin Sans Frontier (MSF), the military and political actors are putting aid into risk, humanitarian aid in Mali is always been instrumentalized by politics. There are three military operations in Mali right now, United Nation Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA), the European Union mission in the Sahel and the French military operation Barkhane. These operations supports the government and the military against specific armed groups. This means that there are several risks, according to the report of MSF: firstly, aid can be understood as support for the government’s political agenda; secondly, population can reject aid if they are not government’s supporters and as consequence, humanitarian organisations and representatives can be attacked because considered as enemies (NGOs or EU representatives are always escorted by military). (Médicins sans Frontières, 2017)
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the persistence of global hunger and poverty while establishing the research focus on EU policies within the Malian context.
2. EU International Cooperation and Development: Describes the organizational structure of the European Commission's development efforts and the role of financial instruments like the Food Security Thematic Programme.
3. EU and Mali Cooperation: Traces the historical trajectory of EU budget support and development strategies in Mali from 2003 onwards.
4. Food Security Thematic Programme: Details the scope, strategic priorities, and legal foundations of the FSTP as a mechanism for addressing food security globally.
5. FSTP in Mali: Examines specific EU interventions in Mali, focusing on strategic priorities like institutional capacity building and resilience.
5.1. Running projects: Provides an overview of active initiatives including cashew sector development and fishing industry support.
6. Criticism: Addresses challenges such as lack of external control, aid instrumentalization, and the reliance on international NGOs over local institutions.
7. Conclusion: Synthesizes the analysis, arguing that while EU aid aligns with basic need approaches, the lack of local management remains a critical barrier to long-term solutions.
Keywords
European Union, Mali, Development Aid, Food Security, Poverty, Hunger, FSTP, Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation, Basic Needs Approach, Infrastructure, Agriculture, NGO, Policy Evaluation, Sustainable Development.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The publication analyzes European Union development policies regarding hunger and poverty, specifically evaluating how these interventions are implemented in Mali and their perceived effectiveness from a local perspective.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the EU’s role as a major aid donor, the structure of the Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP), the challenges of local development in Mali, and the critical intersection of humanitarian aid with political and military agendas.
What is the main objective of this research?
The goal is to critically analyze whether EU actions effectively address the basic needs of the Malian population or if institutional and political factors hinder the intended outcomes of the aid.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis based on the evaluation of strategic documents from the European Commission and other international organizations, coupled with a critical review of existing development theories.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main sections cover the historical cooperation between the EU and Mali, the operational details of the FSTP, case studies of ongoing projects (cashew and fishing sectors), and a critical examination of transparency and control in aid delivery.
How would you characterize the work with keywords?
The work is characterized by terms such as European Union, Mali, Development Aid, Food Security, Poverty, Hunger, Humanitarian Aid, and Basic Needs Approach.
Why is Mali considered a relevant case study for this analysis?
Mali is chosen due to its high poverty levels and Human Development Index (HDI) ranking, despite its natural resource wealth, which creates a significant paradox regarding the effectiveness of external aid.
What is the primary criticism regarding NGO involvement?
The author questions the reliance on international NGOs for project management, noting that it often bypasses local institutions, which limits the transfer of expertise and the sustainability of solutions.
How does the author evaluate the "basic needs approach" in Mali?
The author concludes that while the basic needs approach is highly relevant and adaptable to Mali's current reality as one of the poorest nations, there is a need for more efficient, locally-led execution of projects.
How has the political situation in Mali influenced the delivery of aid?
Political instability and military operations have caused humanitarian aid to be perceived as instrumentalized, potentially putting aid workers at risk and creating social tensions regarding government support.
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- B.A. Amelia Martha Matera (Autor:in), 2018, EU Actions in Mali. Hunger, Poverty and Development, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/417266
