Mali, officially known as the Republic of Mali, is one of the largest countries in West Africa. Landlocked, it is considered one of the hottest countries in the world, with most of its territory characterized by desert or semi-desert climates. Only the far south-western region has a more tropical wet-dry climate. Rainfall varies significantly across the country, decreasing from south to north, with northern areas receiving very little 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 regions (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).  Most cereal production is rain-fed and therefore highly vulnerable to rainfall variability, making climate change a significant threat to both livelihoods and food security. The country is also among the least developed countries in the world, with 44 percent of the population living below the poverty line (World Bank).  

To address these challenges, the government set specific targets, including emission reduction by 2030, strong integration of gender consideration aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, and a more detailed monitoring and reporting framework (UNDP). It also reinforces adaptation measures across key sectors such as agriculture, forestry, water resources, and energy, and introduces decentralized climate funds to support community-led resilience initiatives.