National Statistics Institution of Mali, I am in charge of the design and processing of national-scale surveys, in particular: the design of collection tools (questionnaires, manuals, etc.), the recruitment and training of interviewers, the monitoring of collection in the field, the auditing and analysis of data, the drafting of the survey report and the restitution of data.

I have contributed to six major national and sub-regional surveys, including the National Modular and Permanent Survey of Households (E+MOP), the Integrated Regional Survey on Employment and the Informal Sector (ERI-ESI), the Harmonised Survey on Household Living Conditions (EHCVM), the National Survey on Type Malnutrition (SMART), the Demographic and Health Survey (EDS) and the Governance, Peace and Security Survey (GPS).

I participated in the training on data analysis on child and forced labour in Abidjan and had the chance to meet among the participants, actors, who like me, come from different French-speaking countries in Africa and work in the field of statistics as well as in the drafting of policies.

The areas of particular interest were the interpretation of descriptive statistics and econometric analysis as a basis for measuring progress and designing policies; the determinants of child labour and the national framework, including the legal framework, as well as relevant development and sectoral policies, were considered as key elements for the formulation of an appropriate policy response.

The presentation on labour, employment and labour underutilization in general gave me a better understanding of the new concepts used in labour and employment statistics.

In addition, it also helped to show the importance of indicators on the quality of work (labour underutilization, workers in the informal sector, employees paid below the Guaranteed Minimum Inter-professional Wage, etc.).

I learned that the definition of child labour relates to all work prohibited for persons aged 5-17 years and that such prohibited work is defined by the legislation of each country; the minimum age for hazardous work being 18 years, and 13-14 years (exception 12-13 years) for light work.
Through the various working group sessions, participants were able to share experiences, discuss lessons learned and identify best practices and next steps, thus gaining a better understanding of the concepts and definitions of child and forced labour, derived from national and international legislation and their translation into statistical definitions.

From this training, certain courses of action will be taken into account, in the surveys department and throughout the national statistical system of Mali, with a view to providing annual information on indicator ODD 8.7 on economic activities carried out by children.
In fact, we are going to identify strategies aimed at inserting a module on child labour in one of the sections of the Permanent Modular Household Survey (EMOP) in collaboration with the National Child Labour Unit.

We are also going to revise the jobs module of EMOP, which will now be able to collect data on child labour from the age of 5 years instead of 6 years at present.
Finally, the training on data analysis on child and forced labour has demonstrated the relevance of actions related to the prevention of forced labour such as awareness raising, fair recruitment, due diligence and strengthening private governance.