02 September 2025
The project led by the Malian Red Cross and the Luxembourg Red Cross in Banconi, a neighbourhood of Bamako in Mali, has just been completed and inaugurated.
Launched in 2017, this initiative aimed to bring about lasting improvements to residents’ living conditions through the rehabilitation of housing, street sanitation and infrastructure construction.
After several years of work, the results are significant:
– 17 streets have been upgraded to facilitate traffic flow and reduce the risk of flooding,
– 9 water points have been built or rehabilitated,
– 3 footbridges have been built to connect areas that were previously difficult to access,
– 530 houses have been rehabilitated for the benefit of the most vulnerable families.
These achievements are the result of an exemplary collective effort, combining the expertise of local craftsmen, the careful monitoring of technical teams and, above all, the active involvement of the people of Banconi. Together, they now offer residents a safer, healthier and more dignified environment.
Testimony of Robert Goerens, Chairman of the Board of International Aid of the Luxembourg Red Cross, during a visit to Banconi
“This is the first time I have come to Bamako, and with great interest I was able to meet the beneficiaries of the rehabilitated houses and discuss with the neighborhood leaders the shared life of the local population.
I was delighted to hear that all my interlocutors praised the remarkable work of the Red Cross in cleaning up the streets with the installation of drainage channels, the collection of wastewater, the installation of water points, and the construction of footbridges crossing streams. When one sees the prevailing unsanitary conditions in most of the streets of this popular neighborhood—where mud and stagnant water mix with waste and sewage—one can easily imagine how this project has improved the daily lives of the inhabitants. Parents are now no longer afraid that their children might be swept away by the streams they must cross to go to school, since the construction of footbridges finally allows them to reach it safely. These works have stabilized the land, thus preventing landslides onto houses, and also reduced the risk of electrocution for the inhabitants. Overall, this project has enabled a safer and more dignified life for the people of Bamako.
I am confident that this project is sustainable, given that it has been carried out with the active participation of the population, community actors, and the Malian Red Cross. This ensures the necessary ownership for a project that aims to strengthen the resilience of residents affected by recurring floods.
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Luxembourg public, the Malian Red Cross, and all other partners for their trust and the quality of our partnerships. Our collaboration allows for an efficient use of Luxembourg funds made available to support the most vulnerable, as here in Mali.”
