Mali
A complex, fragile context where GaneshAID has embedded multi-platform solutions to strengthen immunisation evidence use, supervisory coaching, and zero-dose targeting — working alongside the national EPI and international partners including Gavi.
Key Immunisation and Health System Challenges
Mali operates in one of the world's most complex health environments, characterised by persistent armed conflict in the north, chronic resource constraints, and a severe shortage of qualified health workers. Since 2012, security instability has progressively restricted access to communities and disrupted routine immunisation services, contributing to persistently high concentrations of zero-dose and under-immunised children.
The national immunisation programme (CNI/EPI) has faced fragmented evidence systems, weak linkages between data producers and decision-makers, and limited capacity for contextualised analysis. Interventions have historically been generic rather than tailored to the highly differentiated barriers experienced across conflict-affected, rural, urban and mobile population typologies.
GaneshAID's strategic focus in Mali centres on building institutional evidence-use practices, embedding coaching-based supervision within the health system, and supporting AI-assisted zero-dose child identification across difficult-to-reach areas.
"Decision-making relied largely on routine coverage data, with insufficient integration of qualitative insights and field realities. Weak linkages between data producers and decision-makers resulted in underutilised evidence." — CAPEV Programme Documentation
GaneshAID Support in Mali
CAPEV — Mali Country Learning Hub
Established within CNI/EPI governance structures, the Learning Hub deployed the Collaborative Intelligence Platform (PIC) as a structured knowledge management system, enabling the Ministry of Health and partners to co-create, store and monitor evidence related to the zero-dose agenda. The hub organised triangulation workshops and learning forums bringing together government, partners and stakeholders around shared evidence.
Key activities included: a comprehensive rapid assessment on zero-dose children (62 document reviews, 32 key informant interviews, 24 focus group discussions); three phases of implementation research including a quantitative coverage survey with 1,146 respondents; an exploratory study using DHIS2, IHME datasets and geospatial predictive modelling with R, Python and QGIS; and production of 50+ learning products (research reports, policy briefs, infographics, scientific articles).
C2P — Coach2PEV Supervisory Coaching Platform
C2P enables the management of learning and performance for healthcare personnel involved in immunisation services. The approach combines performance coaching for EPI staff, digitalisation of formative supervision tools, and use of social media for improved collaboration between supervisors and supervisees.
Rollout across three phases: Pilot (1 district, 62 trained), Replication (5 districts, 221 trained), Extension (10 districts, 416 trained). Total: 16 health districts, 699 EPI supervisors trained, 144 coaches trained, 794 coachees briefed across 397 health centres. Official project launch: March 13, 2025.
Zero-Dose Identification & Reach
GaneshAID provided participatory technical assistance to Mali as part of an eight-country programme supporting Gavi funding applications (EAF, HSS, CCEOP, FPP streams). This included primary and secondary analysis of zero-dose children using Gavi's Zero-Dose Analysis Cards, synthesis of coverage gaps, and Human Centred Design ideation sessions to develop tailored, sustainable programmatic interventions embedded in Mali's Theory of Change and work plan.
What changed as a result
Strengthened evidence use in decision spaces
Rapid assessment and implementation research findings presented in national and subnational coordination forums, directly informing geographic prioritisation discussions.
Decision-makers requested additional targeted analyses and learning products to support operational planning — a measurable shift in evidence demand culture.
CNI reallocated resources to areas with high prevalence of zero-dose children based on Learning Hub analyses.
50+ learning products disseminated through five webinars and multiple workshops, reaching government and partner decision-makers at all levels.
Improved characterisation of zero-dose children
Zero-dose and under-immunised children are disproportionately concentrated in four typologies, each with distinct barriers:
- Conflict zones: insecurity and service irregularity
- Rural zones: distance and limited mobile strategy coverage
- Urban/peri-urban: misinformation and social exclusion
- Mobile populations: mobility, linguistic barriers and distrust
The pilot phase validated the Coach2PEV formative supervision approach and documented lessons for adoption conditions. The replication and expansion phases — covering 15 health districts — incorporated all lessons from the pilot to specify conditions for scaling to all health districts in Mali.
Partners and Ecosystem in Mali
GaneshAID's Mali engagement operates through a multi-stakeholder model anchored in national ownership, with the Centre National de l'Immunisation (CNI/EPI) as the primary institutional counterpart.
International partners contribute funding, technical standards and accountability frameworks, while GaneshAID provides the integration layer between global norms and local implementation realities.
Engagement model: KLIC-powered South-South
Mali's Learning Hub serves as a KLIConnect node — a knowledge hub connecting the country's zero-dose innovations to neighbouring contexts. Triangulation workshops bring together government, partners and international stakeholders around shared evidence, creating a replicable model for other Sahel countries.
Data sovereignty principle
All data generated through PIC-Mali remains under the sovereign control of the Ministry of Health. GaneshAID's architecture avoids external data dependencies and ensures national teams can maintain and evolve systems independently.