Communities mobilise to protect children from floods
Training, tailored messages and local mobilisation are strengthening children’s resilience in the face of growing climate risks.
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Every year, floods severely affect several regions of Mali, particularly Mopti, Gao and Timbuktu in the north, as well as Kayes in the southwest. In 2024, more than 66,000 people were affected, many of them women and children. The start of the school year was delayed because many families had taken refuge in schools. Heavy rains, overflowing rivers and dam releases worsen natural disasters, leading to loss of life, mass displacement and an increased risk of malnutrition and disease.
To prevent this from happening again in 2025, more than 2,200 villages along the Niger and Senegal rivers have been identified as flood‑risk areas. In response to this growing threat, UNICEF, in partnership with the Regional Directorates for Social Development and the Solidarity Economy, is working to protect girls, boys and their families through three main activities.
1. More than 100 members of the Mopti, Gao, Timbuktu and Kayes watch committees were trained on flood risks. These sessions strengthened their skills in early warning, community mobilisation, identifying temporary shelters and developing crisis communication plans.
2. To effectively inform communities, prevention messages were co‑created with local populations, translated into national languages and broadcast via local radio stations. Visual aids were designed with the participation of Mamans Yeleen (the ‘mothers of light’, who inform women in their communities about essential family practices), community relays and watch committees. This approach ensures that the messages are well understood by the people concerned.
3. community action plans are being implemented with practical measures such as clearing gutters, building dykes and preparing safe refuge areas. These initiatives aim to reduce the vulnerability of communities—particularly children—to rising water levels.
“This initiative illustrates the importance of multi‑sectoral partnerships—that is, collaboration between social services, local authorities, community media and humanitarian organisations—as well as community engagement in the fight against the effects of climate change. Together, let us build more resilient communities,” says Awa Ouattara Guedegbe, Head of the Social and Behavioural Change Section at UNICEF Mali.
Supporting communities to prepare for floods is part of the Sahel Resilience Partnership. This programme is implemented by GIZ, WFP and UNICEF, in collaboration with local authorities and civil society, with financial support from German Development Cooperation (BMZ).
