In 1997, as part of its support for Mali's ten-year education development program (PRODEC), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) announced the implementation of a small-scale project. The project aimed to rewrite and reissue three textbooks in the Djoliba collection. These textbooks are used to teach French in Grades 3, 4, and 5. Reissuing these textbooks provided an opportunity to help the authors to rewrite their books. It also provided a chance to help build the capacity of Mali’s writers, illustrators, and private publishers. The initiative was limited in scope, yet it met a real need. Cissouma Mamadou Lamine is one of the authors of the collection. "The training and support provided were very profitable," he says. "For the first time, we had the chance to work with specialists. In a spirit of solidarity, they supported us in developing tools. They also helped us to improve our textbook-writing abilities." Given the participants' enthusiasm and the sector’s great needs, the Ministry of National Education (MEN) asked CIDA for support in developing its new national policy on textbooks and educational material.

CIDA partners with Mali’s private sector to write, publish, print, and distribute textbooks. CIDA thus promotes local ownership and ongoing support to Mali's textbook publishing industry.

It was important for MEN to involve Mali's private publishers in carrying out this reform. MEN thus shared the financial risk inherent in this type of project. At the same time, it ensured local ownership of this sector. A textbook and book supply chain could not be set up throughout Mali without involving Mali’s book industry. It was thus decided to entrust existing textbooksÿoriginally produced by MEN — to Mali’s private publishers, by means of dealerships. Publishers undertook to make textbooks available in the public market throughout Mali, thus strengthening the book supply chain. To support this initiative and to make it operational, Canada promised a significant increase in its support for Mali’s textbook sector. CIDA funding thus rose from $375,000 to over $23 million.

This financial support has allowed book publishers and dealers to produce and distribute nearly three million textbooks. Today, each pupil has an average of 1.5 textbooks in key subjects. But that number continues to grow. Cissouma Mamadou Lamine is head of MEN’s textbook division. He explains that access to textbooks radically changes the lives of pupils and teachers. He notes the usefulness of dealerships and the new distribution mechanism. "Partnership with private publishers is a way to find Malian solutions with Malian partners," he says. "For the first time, private publishers are delivering textbooks right to schools. Schools have never been so satisfied. They hope this approach continues."

However, MEN has not forgotten that merely supplying textbooks is only a temporary solution. Without a mechanism to renew supplies, another shortage will occur in five years. The textbook procurement reform calls for major changes. These changes aim to bring about sustainable development of the textbook sector, thanks to ownership by MEN and its partners in Mali. The new mechanisms include privatizing textbook writing, publishing, printing, and distribution. The new mechanisms also include decentralizing textbook procurement. CIDA remains a partner in these changes. Among other things, CIDA is funding a major initiative to help build the textbook management capacity of private publishers, MEN officials, schools, and school management committees.

By providing MEN with targeted support, by helping to build the capacity of its agents and partners, CIDA is helping to develop sustainable solutions. These solutions will allow the people of Mali to develop and implement strategies to improve the quality of education, through access to textbooks of sufficient quantity and quality.