Poverty reduction in Mali: will the PRSP make a difference?

Mali is a landlocked Sahelian country, which ranks among the ten poorest countries worldwide according to UNDP’s Human Development Index and in terms of GDP per capita. It is also one of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs) eligible for debt relief. Since September 2000, it has benefited from debt relief under the original HIPC Initiative, and partly from relief granted under the enhanced HIPC Initiative. The Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) was completed in July 2000 and the final paper was adopted by the cabinet in May 2002.