In order to promote and ensure the conditions for wider participation of women in the design, and implementation of public policies, the Government of Mali and the Women Umbrella Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) set up the Projet Renforcements Des Capacities Des Femmes Au Mali (RECOFEM) a wide program for capacity building of women NGOs. In Oct 2004 the ACBF Executive Board approved a grant of US$ 1 million for RECOFEM.
The overall goal of the project was to improve the ability of the Ministry of women affairs to play its role of ensuring better living conditions for women, and promoting gender equity; and professionalise the voice of major women umbrella NGOs so as to enable them to interface efficiently and effectively with the Government.