Economic Resilience–Women and Girls’ Empowerment (RESECO)

The Economic Resilience – Women and Girls’ Empowerment (RESECO) program aims to foster inclusive economic growth and decent job creation in Mali by strengthening the skills, employability, and entrepreneurial capacity of women and girls. Funded by the European Union, the program is implemented over a three-year period (2025-2028) across Bamako, Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, and Segou regions, targeting key population centers and economic hubs. RESECO contributes to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by addressing structural barriers limiting women’s participation in high-potential sectors.

Mali faces a structural employment challenge, with 65% of the population under 25 and nearly 300,000 young people entering the labour market each year, while the economy struggles to absorb them. Women and girls are disproportionately affected. They often enter the labour market with limited technical skills, weak professional networks and little exposure to growth sectors, and remain concentrated in low-productivity activities. Socio-cultural norms, gender stereotypes, and limited access to education further restrict their participation, particularly in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), which offer strong economic opportunities.

RESECO adopts a systems approach to women’s economic empowerment, addressing both individual capacities and structural barriers across three complementary pathways.

First, the program invests in skills development and career orientation, supporting young girls, particularly at secondary level, to access information and opportunities in STIAM fields through awareness campaigns, mentoring, and incentives such as excellence awards.

Second, RESECO strengthens women-led enterprises and organisations through tailored technical assistance, business coaching and access to an impact fund. This enables SMEs and MPMEs to formalise, scale, and integrate into high-potential value chains, creating jobs, and increasing income.

Third, the program works on the enabling environment, engaging public and private actors to improve access to finance, strengthen women’s representation in professional organisations, and promote more inclusive business ecosystems. This includes partnerships with financial institutions, business associations, and government stakeholders.

RESECO is expected to deliver system-level change in women’s economic participation and empowerment. The program will support 10,000 young girls to access better information and opportunities in growth sectors, improving their education and career choices.

It will also strengthen 15 SMEs and 165 women-led MPMEs, with at least 80% becoming more structured and formalised and achieving an average 10% increase in turnover. Increased access to finance and markets will enable these businesses to scale and create jobs, with a target of 50% of jobs benefiting women.

At ecosystem level, RESECO will enhance women’s representation and influence within professional organizations and improve access to tailored financial services. By addressing both supply-side and systemic constraints, the program contributes to inclusive economic development, stronger private sector performance, and sustainable job creation in Mali.