Economic management in the Sahel -- a study of policy advocacy in Mali

This report, based on a one-year study, examines the role of urban and rural interest groups in policy reform in the cotton sector, which represents over 50% of the country"s export earnings. The study applied a multidisciplinary approach to several fronts: the economic policy process; the role of the bureaucracy; the structure and dynamics of interest groups; and the functions of the media and the National Assembly. The study found that the ability of interest groups to affect policy often is dependent on the bureaucracy"s control of particular policies (which varies from policy to policy) and the degree to which policies are coherent with one another. Unfortunately, the National Assembly has very little technical support or parliamentary staff and tends to play a biased role in policy oversight and interest group representation. However, since 1991, the Malian media (a unique phenomenon in West Africa), particularly radio, have played a critical role in the new democratic process and in opening up the economic policy debate (although coverage remains limited and, on economic issues, uninformed). It was found that the success of interest groups in policy making was tied to resource endowment, association with parliamentary groups, access to high levels of the policy process and information, and capacity for policy analysis. SYCOV, the union of cotton producers, has enjoyed uncommon success in reaching its policy goals, probably due to its close relationship with the government and the high level of literacy among its leaders. In sum, Mali is beginning to achieve basic elements of democracy -- a free press, a policy role for interest groups, etc. -- and serves as a model to West Africa. Much more, however, needs to be done. Includes bibliography and a detailed chronology of political and economic events since 1990.