Utilization of Census Data for Effective Planning and Sustainable Development in Mali

Abstract

This study aims to demonstrate the contribution of census data combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to local development planning in Mali, with a particular focus on spatial accessibility to health infrastructure in a rural context. A cross-sectional study design was adopted, integrating spatial and statistical analyses of census and geospatial data. The study was conducted in the rural commune of Kroukoto, located in the cercle of Kéniéba, Kayes Region, south-western Mali, covering approximately 250 km² with an estimated population of about 12,000 inhabitants. Georeferenced census data were integrated with spatial layers representing settlements, road networks, health centers, and educational facilities within a GIS environment. Distance-based accessibility modeling was applied using commonly adopted rural planning thresholds, including 5 km for access to health centers. The results indicate that approximately 65% of the population lives within 5 km of an existing community health center, while 35% remains beyond this threshold, mainly in peripheral and poorly connected areas. Spatial analysis further shows that the existing health facility serves 4,671 people across 1 village and 43 hamlets, whereas the proposed second health center would serve 5,089 people in 5 villages and 44 hamlets, with 2,331 people benefiting from overlapping service areas. These findings reveal significant spatial disparities in service accessibility linked to settlement dispersion and road connectivity. The integration of census data with GIS provides an effective decision-support tool for identifying underserved areas, improving resource allocation, and strengthening evidence-based territorial planning in rural Mali.