Mali Programme Inclusive Decisions At Local level (IDEAL) The IDEAL Mali programme focuses on effective and responsive public service delivery and inclusive decision-making processes at the local level by 5 Malian municipalities in regard to integrated water resource management. The Malian decentralisation process started in 1999 and the first wave of decentralisation in Mali is considered to have lasted until 2004 under the motto “décentralisation immédiate et intégrale”. In principle, a functioning decentralisation in Mali potentially could provide with an appropriate service delivery, collaborative management of public infrastructures and resources and with decision-making of proximity (local democracy), as well as accountability mechanisms (citizens’ control). More recently, decentralisation has been endorsed as a sustainable way out of the crisis in Mali (Algiers agreement, 2015), through which both the central government and the international community once more recognise the enormous potential of decentralised governance in Mali, in spite of the mixed results of the decentralisation after 16 years. Nevertheless, Malian municipalities still lack the financial and technical resources to deliver appropriate services to the population. The transfer of competencies and resources from central to local governments is lagging behind, as well as the latter’s performance in effectively delivering services and bringing good management and governance to the citizens.

IDEAL Mali (2017-2021) will essentially be a capacity development programme aimed at supporting Malian municipalities in strengthening public service delivery to citizens, particularly in the area of integrated water resource management (IWRM/GIRE), as a result of inclusive, conflict- and gender-sensitive decision-making processes, conducive national policies and legislation, as well as by enhancing participation of women in leadership thereby increasing capacity to prevent and manage conflicts.

One of the main results of continued support of VNG International to AMM through LGCP (2012-2016) is the newly-developed Strategic Plan of the Association for 2016-2020. In this document, AMM acknowledges that local government can only gain legitimacy vis-à-vis their citizens by showing results in service delivery in their sectors of competence and has identified areas where Malian municipalities need most support in the coming years. The IDEAL Mali Programme will work towards achieving the following outputs:
* Output 1.1: The capacity of municipalities’ elected officials and permanent staff to manage local water resources and deliver water-related services is improved.
* Output 1.2: The technical capabilities of technical staff (including women) working with/in municipal water commissions have improved.
* Output 1.3: The capability of the municipality to deliver water services that are more responsive towards the needs of their citizens, specifically women, has improved.
* Output 2.1: Malian decision-making bodies (municipalities’ water commissions) are functioning to create public space for consultation and deliberation at the local level on management of water resources in link with the CLE (local water committees).
* Output 2.2: Malian decision-making bodies (municipalities’ water commissions) manage participatory decision-making processes and take into account input provided by stakeholders. 
* Output 2.3: The leadership capacities of female decision-makers within municipalities have improved.
* Output 3.1: Coordination mechanisms between national and decentralized (regional and municipal) level of government, including the GIRE programmes and the Ministry of Water, are in place and have capacity to improve integrated water resource management (IWRM) at the national level.
* Output 3.2: AMM is better able to provide needs-based services to its members and implement its Strategic Plan 2017-2022.  
* Output 3.3: AMM, in coordination with other LGAs, improved its capability to influence national policies in favour of decentralized and gender-sensitive (water) management.
* Output 3.4: AMM improved the capacity of the technical working commissions in order to better lobby their position towards national government.
* Output 3.5: AMM is capable of applying a gender focus in implementing its Strategic Plan 2017 – 2022. The impact of the overall IDEAL programme is: The stronger social contract between local governments and citizens has enhanced local governments' capacity to cope with fragility risks.

The outcomes of the IDEAL Mali programme are:
* Outcome 1: IWRM service delivery by Malian municipalities is more effective and responsive, particularly to the needs of women and youth.
* Outcome 2: In Mali, decision-making processes on integrated water resource management at the local level are more participatory and inclusive.
* Outcome 3: AMM has effectively lobbied for the creation or adjustment of water policies and legislation at national level in coordination with the other existing LGAs in Mali. Also, AMM effectively improved the service delivery towards their members. The programme primarily targets pilot communes and the Local Government Association (AMM) as beneficiaries. The final selection of pilot communes will be made during the inception phase.