This technical brief was prepared by IDS in July 2021 to support the embedding of social science and anthropological perspectives in UK AID-supported Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa (TDDA) technical assistance and its Early Response Mechanism.

It draws on a review of both academic and grey literature, as well as inputs from social scientists and other public health experts in Mali.  It presents key considerations regarding:

  • the background and overview of the country’s health system;
  • issues related to infectious disease outbreaks, response, and preparedness;
  • health governance and key actors;
  • community experiences and responses;
  • implications for outbreak preparedness and response.

This briefing was produced with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) funded Tackling Deadly Diseases in Africa (TDDA) programme managed by DAI Global Health.