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afrol News, 16 October - The structural adjustment programmes of Mali are to be strengthened by further external capital. The structural adjustments include a mix of classic economic liberalisation policies and special attention to reduce the country's widespread poverty. Part three of Mali's structural adjustment programmes is a step in the process of strengthening the reforms implemented by the country's government since 1991 and aims to create an environment that will "foster more rapid and sustainable growth of the Malian economy." The reforms for the revival and strengthening of economic growth, are channelled through support to agricultural production namely, the restructuring of the cotton sector, support to public finances to improve the efficiency of public service delivery for the poor, improvement of governance and the implementation of the decentralisation process. The structural adjustment programmes are to "contribute to poverty reduction in Mali through the improvement of farmers' income and quality of life through," a statement reads. The allocation of supplementary resources to the social sectors further is thought to increase the enrolment and health coverage rate as well as the redeployment of teaching and health personnel to the social sectors and "thereby help reduce the disparities between urban and rural areas." The African Development Fund (ADF) today approved a loan of approximately franc CFA 19.62 billion to finance the 2001-2003 reform programme, which has been developed by the Malian government under advice from the World Bank and the IMF.
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