Kassagué builds a future beyond gold mining

Yanfolila, Mali - In Yanfolila, in the heart of Mali, Kassagué’s life is being transformed through the empowerment brought by rural entrepreneurship. After years marked by uncertainty and limited economic options, she has now opened a pathway filled with opportunity, dignity, and hope for her family.

A Turning Point

For many years, Kassagué relied on artisanal gold mining to support her household. Although it was one of the few income‑generating activities accessible to women in her community, the work was risky, physically demanding, and a source of tension at home. Her husband was increasingly worried about the dangers she faced each time she traveled to the mining sites.

A decisive shift occurred between 2022 and 2024, when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) jointly implemented the project “Supporting Rural Youth Self‑Employment as a Driver of Peace and Social Cohesion in Mali.” Financed by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), the project aimed to equip young people, women, and returning migrants in Kita and Yanfolila with skills and opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.

Following a community‑based business plan competition, Kassagué was selected among 250 beneficiaries to develop an income‑generating activity, an opportunity she immediately saw as her chance to leave gold mining behind for good.

Investing in Livestock to Build the Future

With the cash transfer she received in April 2024, Kassagué invested in goat rearing, an activity she considered realistic and sustainable. She built an enclosure and a small shelter, and purchased five goats, which she feeds with fodder bought every two days.

Two years later, despite some losses, her herd has grown to 18 goats. She has even sold three of them for about 150,000 FCFA, easing the financial pressure on her household. More importantly, these improvements have brought greater harmony at home. Her husband, once hesitant, now actively supports her work.

Diversifying Her Income: Small Trade

Having not used the entire financial support for livestock, Kassagué also launched a small trading business. She renovated an unused shop in their home, fitted it with wooden shelves, and purchased a cart to sell her goods around the community. This activity now generates between 5,000 and 10,000 FCFA per day, providing an essential complement to her livestock income.

A Life Transformed

Today, Kassagué enjoys greater financial autonomy, renewed confidence, and restored stability. Her story illustrates how targeted support, tailored to community needs and rural realities, can transform women’s livelihoods, strengthen cohesion within households and communities, and reduce the lure of recruitment by non‑state armed groups.

Her journey reflects the spirit of International Women’s Day 2026, which calls for pathways to justice and equity, enabling every woman and girl to shape her future and live with dignity.

This joint FAO-IOM-UNESCO project strengthened the capacities of more than 500 young people and women in conflict prevention and entrepreneurship. Through cash transfers, training, and community‑based approaches, 750 beneficiaries were able to launch sustainable income‑generating activities within agropastoral value chains, enhancing their economic empowerment and self‑esteem.

They were supported by 43 Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), 43 Farmer Field Schools (FFS), and 40 Dimitra Clubs, community groups focused on dialogue, leadership, gender equality, and collective action. These combined efforts have boosted economic inclusion, strengthened social cohesion, and reduced reliance on precarious activities such as artisanal gold mining.