The Economic Growth Support Programme - Phase II (PACE-II) is the second phase of a programme-based budget operation to support reforms over the 2017-2019 period. PACE-II is a continuation of PACE-I. It covers 2019 and aims to consolidate the gains of previous budget support operations in general and PACE-I, in particular, through such complementary structural reforms as: (i) the adoption of a revenue mobilisation optimisation action plan; (ii) the publication of tax exemption related social expenditure; (iii) the revision of the Mining and Customs Codes; and (iv) the operationalisation of the Sustainable Development Fund. The appraisal of PACE II took place in a context of worsening global security with the appearance of new pockets of conflicts in the centre of the country, especially in Segou and Mopti Regions. Structured similar to Phase I of the programme, PACE II comprises three complementary components: (a) improvement of public finance management; (b) promotion of competitiveness and private sector development; and (c) strengthening of inclusive development. These three components will contribute to addressing the main constraints and challenges facing the country.

PACE II is the second phase of PACE whose main objective is to contribute to the creation of conditions for a robust, sustained and inclusive economic growth driven by a more dynamic private sector by strengthening public finance sustainability and implementing structural reforms. Specifically, the programme will place emphasis on reforms aiming to: (i) improve public revenue mobilisation; (ii) strengthen public expenditure effectiveness to create a deeper impact on the country's economic and social development; (iii) support the competitiveness of the economy with special emphasis on capacity building for the private sector and energy sector reforms; and (iv) strengthen inclusive development through the furtherance of decentralisation and improvement of social inclusion. Thus, the programme hopes to respond to the major challenges and constraints facing the country.

PACE-II will benefit the entire people of Mali thanks to better public finance management and the development of a more dynamic private sector. Strengthening public finance management will indeed enhance basic social service delivery and facilitate access thereto. Support for greater economic competitiveness will also foster the emergence of a crop of more dynamic entrepreneurs, thereby helping to lay the groundwork for sustained inclusive growth. Vulnerable population groups will also benefit from the reforms targeting more inclusive development in Mali. Specifically, PACE II will help to create conditions for a multi-pronged approach to enable women to access social protection and local development through their registration in the unified social register to serve as a basis for the targeting of all development projects and programmes in favour of vulnerable persons. In the same vein, support for private sector development will help to build the operational capacity of SMEs headed by women and to improve their access to financing, thereby contributing to their autonomy and the reduction of gender inequalities. The project is classified in "Category 3" according to the Bank's Gender Marker System. The other programme beneficiaries are Government departments (Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry in charge of the Private Sector, Ministry in charge of Decentralisation, Ministry in charge of Solidarity, etc.).

EBAKISSE TSANGA Sandrine Ida

s.ebakisse@afdb.org

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF AfDB

The Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), which is administered by the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU), is the independent complaint mechanism and fact-finding body for people who have been or are likely to be adversely affected by an African Development Bank (AfDB)-financed project. If you submit a complaint to the IRM, it may assist you by either seeking to address your problems by facilitating a dispute resolution dialogue between you and those implementing the project and/or investigating whether the AfDB complied with its policies to prevent environmental and social harms. You can submit a complaint electronically by emailing crmuinfo@afdb.org, b.kargougou@afdb.org, b.fall@afdb.org, and/or s.toure@afdb.org. You can learn more about the IRM and how to file a complaint at https://www.afdb.org/en/independent-review-mechanism/.