Mali, officially known as the Republic of Mali, is one of the largest countries in West Africa. The country is landlocked, sharing border with seven countries: Algeria, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina, Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea and Senegal. It is known to be one of the hottest countries in the world, with most parts the country has desert or semi-desert climate, except for the far south-west region with more tropical wet dry climate. Rainfall varies significantly across the country, decreasing from south to north, with the northern region receiving minimal precipitation during the boreal summer. Temperatures remain consistently high, with large variations between day and night, as well as between seasons, especially in the northern areas (African Development Bank Group).  

In recent years, Mali has faced increasing climate risks, including rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and desertification (World Bank Group). As the majority of cereal crops in Mali are rain-fed, which are vulnerable to rainfall variability, these climate change impacts can threaten both livelihoods and food security. Additionally, the country is among the least developed countries in the world, with 44% of the population is below the poverty line (World Bank). To face these challenges, Mali updated their NDC in 2021, with the key highlights on emission reduction targets by 2030, increased commitment compared to 2015 submission, gender integration to align with Sustainable Development Goals, and including detailed monitoring and reporting framework (UNDP). It also strengthens adaptation measures across key sectors such as agriculture, forestry, water resources, and energy, and introduces decentralized climate funds to support community-led resilience initiatives.