Fatou Haidara | |
|---|---|
 UNIDO's Deputy DG Fatou Haidara in 2025 | |
| Born | c.1962 |
| Nationality | Mali |
| Occupation | politician |
| Employer | UNIDO |
| Known for | Minister for Industry and later UNIDO Deputy DG |
Fatou Haidara (born c.1962) is a Malian politician and the youngest female minister. She went on to be a deputy director-general for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.
Haidera was born in about 1962. She had a masters degree in Economics when she led the "Support for Women Entrepreneurs" project and worked for the Centre for Studies and Industrial Promotion (CEPI). In 1992 when she was thirty she became the youngest minister in the new President Alpha Oumar Konaré's government on 9 June 1992. She was given the Employment and Vocational Training portfolio where she promoted Mali's private sector. [1]
In 1993 she moved to the Crafts and Tourism ministry until she was given the more important Ministry of Industry, Trade and Crafts in 1997. She held that portfolio until 2000 when Alpha Oumar Konaré had a reshuffle. [1] She had been a minister for eight years. [2]
Haidara joined the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). [2] She was promoted to be UNIDO's Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations in 2018 and a Deputy Director-General in 2022. [2] [3] She had the special responsibility for Africa. [2]
She has been an advocate for women's rights. On International Women's Day in 2015 she joined a panel to discuss these issues following a screening of the film, The Supreme Price. Hafsat Abiola's campaign in Nigeria was discussed. [4]
In 2025 there had been 57 women ministers in Mali and Haidara was one of them. The first in government was Inna Sissoko Cissé in 1968 and Gakou Fatou Niang was the first minister. [1]