Microfinance et réduction de la pauvreté selon le genre au Mali : un réexamen des données de 2007-2008[Microfinance and Poverty Reduction by Gender in Mali: A Review of 2007-2008 data]

Our study on microfinance and poverty reduction in Mali by gender mobilized an econometric method called Heckman's selection model (ETH, 1979) using data collected in 2008 on benefi-ciaries of microfinance programs in Mali. It provides the following results: microcredit con-tributes to poverty reduction among both women and men beneficiaries. But while its effect on poverty is significantly higher among women who have been long-term beneficiaries, overall, men have higher effects. These results broadly converge with those of the propensity score matching (PSM) model, despite some differences. At the global level, the ETH model shows indeed men have higher effects, in contrast to the PSM where women present higher effects. In rural areas, for the ETH model, women have the most significant effects, the model of PSM emphasizes the importance of the effects on male poverty. More generally, the re-sults obtained by the Heckman treatment effect model confirm those already obtained by the PSM, namely due to longer participation in microfinance programs, access to microcredit contributes to reducing poverty among women more than among men. These results suggest that microfinance based on gender policy should be encouraged, but it seems desirable to support it, or even to frame it through other major programs such as education. Therefore, a financial inclusion policy and strategy must consider programs that target both women and men, so that the effects become more significant in terms of poverty reduction.