Notes from a May TPM mission to central Mali

In May, I led a third-party monitoring mission from Bamako to Mopti and onwards by road to the Koro area passing through Bandiagara and Bankass. The decision to go by road (only way) was not taken lightly of course. Access was uncertain, information changed quickly, and not many would have dared to take the full route. However, independent verification requires presence.

On the ground, we listened more than we spoke in community spaces, and service points. The stories converged: displacement, disrupted livelihoods, heightened risks for women and children, and the quiet endurance of people who still find ways to help one another. We triangulated what we heard with spot checks and documentation, maintaining confidentiality and safety front and centre.

As the head of the mission, I felt the weight of two responsibilities: the duty of care for the team and the duty of accuracy for the people whose realities we were documenting. Every photo, note, and dataset had to protect identities while still telling the truth strongly enough to inform the decisions.

We returned with evidence and practical recommendations about strengthening local referral pathways, closing small but critical gaps in services, and adapting to a context that changes day to day….