GCA Supports World Bank Climate-Resilient Road Project in Mali
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otterdam, Netherlands, 29 May 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) today welcomed the approval of the Mali Connectivity and Road Resilience Project by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors. The US$219.8 million project will climate-proof key transport infrastructure in Mali, with GCA providing technical assistance to ensure the integration of scalable and inclusive adaptation measures throughout the design and implementation phases.
The investment focuses on upgrading 140 kilometers of road in the Kayes region, specifically the Diéma–Sandaré section of the Northern Bamako–Dakar Corridor, a vital trade route linking Mali to Senegal’s port of Dakar. The project is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between remote rural communities and essential services, particularly healthcare and markets, in a country where 44.6 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and road access is often disrupted by extreme weather.
Mali’s road infrastructure has been severely affected by the increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events. During the 2024 rainy season, flooding caused widespread damage and forced the government to declare a national catastrophe, impacting more than 350,000 people. With climate change expected to further increase such risks, this project will play a critical role in reducing vulnerability while supporting long-term development goals. The project is aligned with the Government of Mali’s Vision 2063, which prioritizes climate-resilient infrastructure as a driver of national and regional growth.
Professor Patrick Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, welcomed the initiative stating: “This project is a lifeline for millions of Malians. Climate-resilient roads are not only essential to economic growth, but also to food security, maternal healthcare, and regional integration. We are proud to partner with the World Bank and the Government of Mali to embed adaptation solutions that are scalable, cost-effective, and socially inclusive.”
GCA’s support under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP) will strengthen the resilience of both infrastructure and institutions. GCA will conduct detailed climate risk assessments, evaluate the costs and benefits of adaptation options and ensure that interventions safeguard critical access to healthcare services, food supply chains, and rural livelihoods. Particular attention will be paid to addressing the needs of women and marginalized communities, who are often disproportionately affected by climate disruptions. In western Mali, only around 30 percent of rural women have access to maternal care. Poor road conditions often prevent timely access to obstetric services, contributing to a maternal mortality rate of 440 per 100,000 live births. GCA’s approach will address these barriers by helping design resilient road networks that maintain year-round access to health facilities.
The project also strengthens Mali’s institutional capacity to plan, maintain and manage climate-resilient transport systems. This includes embedding adaptation measures into the national road asset management system and providing guidelines for integrating climate risks into infrastructure planning. GCA will support the delivery of a regional AAAP Masterclass on Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Public-Private Partnerships, fostering knowledge exchange across Mali, Niger and Chad.
This initiative builds on GCA’s growing portfolio of adaptation support across the Sahel, including previous work in Niger and Chad on climate-resilient road corridors and rural connectivity. It also deepens GCA’s engagement on cross-sectoral challenges linking transport, healthcare, and food systems in fragile contexts. By helping operationalize the World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report for the Sahel, this partnership offers a model for scaling resilience in other vulnerable regions.
GCA is committed to ensuring that adaptation solutions are not only technically sound and financially viable but also socially inclusive and tailored to the needs of the most vulnerable. With this project, Mali is taking a significant step forward in climate-proofing its development and laying the foundation for a more resilient and equitable future.
