Direction Générale de l'Administration du Territoire (DGAT) (DGAT)

The DGAT of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation is responsible, among other things, for drafting and implementing the laws and regulations on associations and foundations, and for designing, monitoring and evaluating strategies on the exercise of public freedoms. NGOs in Mali are associations that sign a framework agreement (accord-cadre) with the State through the ministry in charge of territorial administration.

Organisations first exist as associations declared with the administration. To operate as an NGO, an association signs a framework agreement (accord-cadre) with the State through the ministry in charge of territorial administration; the agreement brings tax and customs exemptions but no direct state funding. A national commission evaluates associations holding framework agreements, and the 2005 decrees set rules on oversight and sanctions. NGOs also obtain operational certificates (certificats d'opérationnalité) from the ministry, which funders such as World Bank-financed projects require for the previous three years. In November 2022 the transitional government banned the activities of NGOs operating with French funding or support. Details of the accord-cadre procedure, fees and renewals are not published on the ministry site.