Mali Livestock for Growth (L4g) Monthly Report No

MALI LIVESTOCK FOR GROWTH (L4G) MONTHLY REPORT NO. 58

Date: August 2019

Contract Number: AID-688-C-14-00004

Submitted to: USAID | Mali

Prepared by: DT Global

(Please note that effective July 26, 2019, DT Global, a new entity which combines AECOM International Development and Development Transformations, has inherited the Livestock for Growth project as part of the divestment of AECOM International Development.)

DISCLAIMER: The authors’ views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

Monthly Report No. 58 | Mali Livestock for Growth (L4G) i LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

AEH Action Essentielles en Hygiène AEN Actions Essentielles en Nutrition COP Chief of Party DCOP Deputy Chief of Party DRPIA Direction Regionale des Productions et Industries Animales (Regional Director for Animal Production and Industries in the Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries) FFS Farmer Field School IR Intermediate Result L4G Livestock for Growth M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MFI Microfinance Institution MNLB Multi-Nutritional Licking Blocks NGO Non-Government Organization OHADA Organisation pour l'Harmonisation en Afrique du Droit des Affaires PO Producer Organisation SVPP Service Vétérinaire Privé de Proximité USAID United States Agency for International Development

SECURITY

For the first time in months, the security situation appears to have significantly improved. Indeed, across all regions of Mali, the total number of incidents reported was only 33 in July as compared to 52 in the June period, a decline of about 37% (see Figure 1, below). This trend also occurred in the Mopti region with only 14 security incidents in July compared to 24 in June (see Figure 3 on the following page). Likewise, the number of people killed was significantly lower in July as compared to June (see Figure 2, below). In the Mopti region, the number of dead dropped by 75% compared to June (see Figure 4 on the following page). These facts suggest that the security situation in Mali improved during July. The deployment of more Mali military forces in the affected zones, including Mopti region, and the tour made in late June by the Malian Prime Minister, Dr. Boubou Cisse, through several affected areas, including Mopti, seems to have reduced the conflicts that caused so many incidents and deaths. While drafting this August monthly report, L4G has learned that the Prime Minister is making a second visit to the Mopti region to distribute food and other basic supplies, as well as cash, to the most vulnerable populations. Hopefully, these actions will discourage troublemakers and encourage the forces of peace and stability.

Figure 1. Total number of reported incidents in Mali for June and July 2019 June incidents July incidents

60 52 50

40 33 30 24

20 14 9 10 10 10 4 2 3 3 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 Region Kayes Bamako Mopti Gao Kidal Menaka Segou Timbuktu Sikasso Total

Figure 2. Total number of reported dead in Mali for June and July 2019 250 196 200 149 150

100 60 50 37 15 26 0 0 8 7 7 6 1 0

June dead July dead

Monthly Report No. 58 | Mali Livestock for Growth (L4G) 1

And, just a week ago, on August 11, 2019, the Malian Major General of the Army (Chef d’Etat, Major General de l’Armée) issued a communiqué lifting one-year suspension on the use of motorcycles and pick-up trucks in Mopti, Tombouctou, and Segou regions.1 Hopefully, this measure will help restore normal movement of goods, people and services in many localities where people’s livelihoods depend on the use of motorcycles to move around daily.

Figure 3. Total number of reported incidents in Mopti region for June and July 2019 30 24 25 20 14 15 7 7 10 6 5 2 3 2 3 5 0 0 1 1 1 0

June incidents July incidents

Figure 4. Total number of reported dead in Mopti region for June and July 2019

160 149

140

120

100

80 59 59 60 37 40 25 18 20 8 4 6 5 2 0 Bandiagara Bankass Djenne Douentza Koro Mopti Tenenkou Youwarou Total

June Dead July Dead

1 Communiqué du Chef d’Etat Major Général des Armées https://malijet.com/communiques-de-presse/231567-communiqu%C3%A9-du-chef-d%E2%80%99etat-major- g%C3%A9n%C3%A9ral-des-arm%C3%A9es.html 2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Monthly Report covers the period from July15th to August 15th, 2019. This reporting period included the following key events: (1) a field visit to Sevare by a delegation from USAID/Mali on July 17th; (2) the L4G sponsorship and organization of the Tabaski Fair called “BOMOTABS” in Sevare from July 31st through August 5th, a fair which involves the marketing of sheep, the most popular livestock animal for this Islamic holiday or feast; and (3) a seminar conducted after the Tabaski fair, with several local entities, on August 6th at which the Regional Department for Animal Production and Industries (DRPIA) in the Ministry of Livestock & Fisheries, pledged to take over sponsorship of this important marketing event in future years since the L4G program will end on Friday, September 27th, 2019. Moreover, during this reporting period, L4G field staff delivered their last training and technical assistance activities to L4G program participants and stakeholders, since as agreed with USAID/Mali, Friday, August 15th was the last day for such services to be delivered by The opening of the L4G sponsored Tabaski fair in Sevare on July 31st, with the Regional field staff to livestock owners and their Administrative Authorities (from right to left: the Governor’s representative (in the khaki uniform) and the Sevare City Mayor, wearing a white hat and a multi-colored banner Producer Organizations. reflecting the Malian flag colors.

COMPONENT 1: INCREASED ANIMAL PRODUCTIVITY

SUB IR 1.1 ENHANCED TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION, DISSEMINATION, AND MANAGEMENT

TASK 1.1.1 MODERNIZE ANIMAL HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEMS

Because of the continuing perception of the L4G program areas being insecure, despite the statistical decline in incidents noted above, combined with the displacement of people seeking safer locations, the SVPPs did not conduct their service delivery activities during this reporting period.

TASK 1.1.2 DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE MESSAGES ABOUT LIVESTOCK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND ISSUES

Access to modern livestock raising techniques information, developed by L4G and available through the VIAMO2 platform on Orange telecom, is available through Orange telecom in Mali. As part of the L4G agreement with VIAMO, they have shared the following reporting and statistical information with us for the months of June and July, through July 31, 2019. (See the following page.) • There were 88,825 callers seeing technical information through the L4G-sponsored platform where livestock technical information about best practices for animal health care, nutrition and

2 VIAMO stands for “VIA MOBILE MEDIA,” an international NGO specialized in developing platforms of static technical information which is available through partnerships with local mobile phone service companies, like Orange in Mali. See: https://viamo.io/fr/ 3

marketing and other subjects are available through the VIAMO platform on Orange telecom during the months of June and July. o 35,863 callers (40.4%) were most interested in learning about modern animal health care practices. o 28,898 callers (32.5%) were interested in learning about modern livestock fattening techniques, including improved livestock feed practices. o 10,753 callers (12.1%) were interested in learning about livestock export markets. o 6,583 callers (7.4%) were interested in learning about how to register their producer groups as a cooperative, a legal entity, and to obtain a certificate from the government. o 4,598 callers (5.2%) were interested in learning about access to the warehouse receipt system of storing harvested crops, including animal forage crops. o 4,523 callers (4.1%) were interested in learning about improved human health, hygiene and nutrition practices. o 3,156 callers or (3.5%) were interested in learning general information about L4G. (NOTE: Please note, that by adding all the number of calls and their percentages, one would get a total of 91,218 callers which is 105.2% of 88,825. According to VIAMO, this is explained by the fact that some callers listened to more than one topic or theme during their call, which causes the total number of calls and percentage of calls seeking specific technical information to exceed 100%. END NOTE.)

VIAMO reports that in terms of the languages used by the callers seeking static technical information, the demographics were as follows: • 60,667 callers (68.3%) requested access to the “Bambara” language-based livestock technical information. • 18,742 callers (21.1%) requested access to the “Pular,” or “Peul” language-based livestock technical information. • 4,619 callers (5.2%) requested access to the “Sonhrai” language-based livestock technical information. • 3,819 callers (4.3%) requested access to the “Tamasheq” language-based livestock technical information. • Only 977 callers (1.1%) requested access to the French language-based livestock technical information. L4G will collect further reporting information from VIAMO for August and September and it will be included in the L4G 5th Year (FY 2019) Annual Report. Some additional analysis of the VIAMO platform will also be included in the DT Global Final Report to USAID/Mali on the L4G Program. We are assured by our contractual agreement with VIAMO that VIAMO will continue to collect information on the number of callers and what type of information they are seeking and share those statistics with DT Global.

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) The final FFS activities that were carried out during the final period for providing training and technical services to livestock producers are summarized on the following page (in Table 5 for the Mopti region and Table 6 for Timbuktu region). In the Mopti region, 130 Lead Farmers, including 49 women (38% of the participants) were trained. The Lead Farmers were trained on a variety of improved animal fattening practices. In addition, animals were for sale and most sellers reported making profitable sales at livestock markets, after following L4G improved livestock feeding FFS demonstration of weight measurement with practices. In Timbuktu, 330 Lead Farmers, including 134 women (41% of the tape in Dire (AMRAD, July 2019) participants) were trained. Unfortunately, the FFS training in the Timbuktu region and the animal fattening operations started later than planned because of the insecurity in the areas planned for FFS sites. 4

Table 5: FFS training in the Mopti region, July-August 2019

Training Topics Cercles: Localities Lead Farmers trained Outcomes Acquired skills on topics taught. All FFS animals were sold in Koro: 110 sheep were sold for KORO: Youdiou, Bondo, Selection of good 60 (including 28 women) 8,930,000 FCFA (about Barapireli animals for fattening; $17,860.00 US). How to measure weight with a measuring tape; BANKASS AND Acquired skills on topics taught. Financial literacy; BANDIAGARA 60 (including 18 women) 10 cattle were sold for a total Animal health and (Dandoli; Dourou) value of 4,387,500 FCFA (about hygiene; $7,373.00 US). Marketing animals; Acquired skills on topics taught. MOPTI (Sokoura) and Contract sales MOPTI AND DJENNE: 65 DJENNÉ 10 (including 3 women) negotiations; and sheep were sold for 6,826,500 FCFA (about $11,471.00 US). Financial analysis of income statements and balance sheets. 130 (including 49 Total 20.144 million FCFA (about women = 38% of the $33,850.60 US) participants)

Table 6: FFS training in the Timbuktu region, July – August 2019

Training Topics Cercles: Localities Lead Farmers trained Outcomes Selection of good DIRE (Tindirma; Teyssit; animals for fattening; N’tassimane; Koigour ; 60 (including 22 women) Acquired skills on topics taught How to measure Arham) NIANFUNKE (Sibonne, weight with a 60 (including 40 women) Acquired skills on topics taught measuring tape; Dabi, and Waki) Financial literacy; GOUNDAM 160 (including 72 women) Acquired skills on topics taught Animal health and hygiene; Marketing animals; 330 Lead Farmers trained (including 134 women = Contract sales Total negotiations; and 41% of the participants) Financial analysis of income statements and balance sheets.

TASK 1.1.3 IMPROVE LIVESTOCK FORAGE AND ANIMAL FEED PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY

1. MULTI-NUTRITIONAL LICKING BLOCKS (MNLBs) During the period under review, 120 MNLB blocks were produced by 4 Producer Organizations (POs) in Bankass and of these, 103 MNLB blocks were sold for extra income by the producers, for a net value

of 103,000 FCFA or about $206.00 (US), with the remaining 17 MNLB blocks kept by their producers for their own use.

Participants during the establishment of fodder banks for Mopti and Djenne on Participants during the establishment of fodder banks for Koro on July 18th (L4G, th July 26 (L4G, Djenne) Koro)

2. FODDER BANKS During the period under review, 24 new Fodder Banks were established throughout the Mopti region. These are meant to assist fodder producers to have readily available fodder for their animals while enabling them selling the extra fodder for additional income. Ten (10) animal fodder banks were established in Mopti cercle (in Souffroulaye, Somadougou, Mandio, Mouna, Nianangalo, Sakerel, Baccoro, Takouti, Gnimintongo and Tongorongo); 4 animal fodder banks were established in Djenné cercle (in Dandougou, Madiama, Fakala and one in Djenne by the Djenne Women’s Platform), while 10 fodder banks were in Koro cercle (in Toroly, Pel Mahoude, Andiagana, Pomorododiou, Koporo Na, Don, Ogodengou, Sohan, Omo and Youdiou). These animal fodder banks were established through practical workshops facilitated by L4G staff as can be seen in the above photos.

3. FODDER PRODUCTION Through the GPS tracking mechanism, 41 POs established dual purpose fodder plots in Koro cercle. These represent 201 hectares (ha) of land planted with improved L4G technologies, including 53.5 ha of cowpea, 119.5 ha of groundnut and 28 ha of millet in six communes (Koro, Koporo Pen, Koporo Na, Bondo, Barapiréli, Youdiou). In Mopti and Djenné Cercles, 59 ha of land planted by 19 POs, with 18.9 ha of groundnut, 32.5 ha of cowpea, 5.0 ha of sorghum, 1.0 ha of Bourgou and 1.5 ha of Braccaria. This represents a cumulative total of 260 hectares of land planted with dual purpose forage crops which will be available for harvesting to make animal fodder between October and November 2019.

SUB IR 1.3 IMPROVED PASTURELAND AND WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

TASK 1.3.1 ASSIST PASTORALISTS AND LIVESTOCK FARMERS TO IMPROVE EXISTING WATER POINTS FOR LIVESTOCK (AND PLAN NEW ONES)

The L4G team completed its training of and providing technical assistance to the five (5) water management committees for the rehabilitated water points in Bankass (4 water points) and Koro (1 water point) cercles. The handing over ceremony has finally been confirmed for Tuesday, August 20th and it will take place in Sevare, due to security concerns in Bankass and Koro. A full report on this event will provided during the final or 5th (FY 2019) L4G Annual Report to USAID.

SUB IR 1.4: IMPROVED COMMUNITY LITERACY, NUMERACY, NUTRITION AND HYGIENE PRACTICES

TASK 1.4.2 IMPROVE NUTRITION AND HYGIENE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL

BROADCASTING MESSAGES THROUGH LOCAL RADIOS: The same human nutrition and hygiene messages that have been broadcast previously by our 8 partner radio stations (5 in Mopti region and 3 in the Timbuktu region) continued to be broadcast between mid-July and mid-August 2019.

TRAINING ON BASIC SKILLS IN NUTRITION AND HYGIENE (AEN & AEH): L4G implemented its final trainings on basic human nutrition (AEN) and basic human hygiene (AEH) in three communes of (Timbuktu region) Dire Cercle. Twenty-three (23) POs, comprising six hundred and forty- five participants (645), including 516 women (80%), participated in the training workshops.

COMPONENT II. INCREASED DOMESTIC AND EXPORT TRADE

SUB IR 2.1 STRENGTHENED MARKET LINKAGES AND ACCESS

TASK 2.1.1 IMPROVE VERTICAL LINKAGES TO BUILD TRUST AND SUSTAINABLE MARKET RELATIONSHIPS

FACILITATING PO NEGOTIATIONS WITH LAHAM: On July 24th, both Dr. Seydou Sidibe (Senior Consultant for Marketing) and the COP (Dr. Joseph Sedgo) met with the CEO of LAHAM, Mrs. Jamila Benbaba, about the rupture in the forward contracts between L4G program participants and LAHAM. L4G explained to the CEO the issues, expressing their concern that the contract between LAHAM and the Koro Animal Fatteners has not yet been renewed. L4G asked for the CEO advice about how to address this issue. Without a forward contract. The Koro Animal Fatteners may seek other buyers elsewhere and this would deprive LAHAM from a regular source of reliable supplies of livestock animals. The LAHAM CEO thanked L4G for initiating the meeting and expressed a keen desire to find an amicable solution as quickly as possible to the previous difficulties (which L4G noted in previous reports to USAID). The LAHAM CEO mentioned that the prices which the Koro Animal Fatteners received in both Senegal and Ivory Coast were too high for their live animals, especially when compared to the price LAHAM was receiving for its processed meats per kilo in those same countries. If LAHAM had to match those live animal prices, LAHAM would lose money. Moreover, the LAHAM CEO stated that they wish to sell their processed beef to Senegal AND Cote d’Ivoire for between 2,150 and 2,300 FCFA/KG just to break-even but buyers in those countries were reluctant to pay such prices for LAHAM processed beef. The LAHAM CEO said this is what caused LAHAM not to approve any price increases for the Koro Animal Fatteners network. Nevertheless, she promised that she would strive her best to see if there might be a way out of the dilemma and to respond in the future to L4G. The Koro Animal Fatteners network has been so notified, since L4G is no longer providing technical assistance or training to L4G program participants.

THIRD EDITION OF THE TABASKI SHEEP FAIR (BOMOTABS) For the third year in a row, L4G co-sponsored with the DRPIA a Tabaski Trade Fair between July 31st and August 5th, known as “Bomotabs,” designed for L4G program-assisted sheep producers to sell their animals during the peak demand period. This year, 14 producers, including 3 women, came from all five (5) cercles of the Mopti region and participated. They brought 109 sheep and sold 99 at an average price of 84,262 FCFA per head, versus more than 150,000 FCFA in Bamako, indicating how much lower (44% lower) the price for a live, fattened sheep is in rural markets compared to the capital city. This fact explains why many urban consumers preferred buying their live animals to slaughter for their Tabaski family feast from the countryside, instead of Bamako.

The producers from Koro, Bankass, Bandiagara sold 100% of their live sheep while the producers from Djenné sold 90%, whereas the remaining cercle of Mopti sold only 46% of the sheep which they brought to the market. This seems to confirm that producers from Koro, Bankass and Bandiagara have mastered the art of animal fattening more than the producers from Djenné and Mopti. (See Table 7 below.)

There were much fewer sheep (109) at the fair this year as compared to last year, when 347 sheep and 345 goats were brought to the market. This situation essentially stems from the insecurity fears which discouraged many producers from participating in BOMOTABS. L4G was also told that many producers preferred taking their animals to Bamako where they were expecting to be able to sell their sheep for much higher prices and earn a higher income. Unfortunately, there were so many sheep this year in Bamako and the prices were set so high by the Bamako-based businesses that many sheep owners could not sell their sheep at the high prices, as anticipated. Some sheep sellers even incurred losses, according to some local newspapers, such as “L’Essor”.3

Table 7: Outcomes from the BOMOTABS Fair (Sevare) July 31-Augst 4, 2019

Sheep Participating Sheep Total Value of Head Women Men Total brought for Cercles Sold sales (FCFA) sold (%) sale Koro 0 3 3 34 34 2,560,000 100 Bankass and 1 3 4 33 33 3,085,500 100 Bandiagara Mopti 1 1 13 6 455,000 46 Djenne 2 4 6 29 26 2,241,000 90 Total 3 11 14 109 99 8,342,000 91

A picture illustrating a transaction between a female An official banner at the Tabaski sales in Sevare. producer and a buyer during the Tabaski sales in Sevare.

L4G organized a follow-up workshop on August 6th, after the Tabaski sales fair event. This workshop enabled the Tabaski trade fair event participants and stakeholders to analyze their 3 years of experience with the event, discuss lessons learned and decide if they would continue the event since L4G is ending. The Tabaski trade fair participants and stakeholders are keen to continue with such promotional sales events in the years to come. Thankfully, the DRPIA pledged to take over sponsorship and organization of this event from L4G for the future. The DRPIA Director even promised that they would offer free

3 « L’Essor” is the Government of Mali’s daily newspaper 8 accommodations for all those who wanted to come and stay overnight to participate in future promotional sales events organized by DRPIA. Workshop participants also made the following recommendations directly to the Director of the DRPIA to pass on to the Minister of Livestock & Fisheries: 1) The Ministry, through the DRPIA, should organize an information sharing workshop for more people to be aware of this opportunity and participate. 2) The DRPIA should looking for commercial sponsorship of such future events. 3) The Ministry should consider inviting and including both the PRAPS and PADELM projects, two World Bank-funded projects, for more positive impact and visibility. 4) DPRIA should take the responsibility of making enough staff available to monitor the various activities during the event. 5) The L4G established FFS should remain a good learning ground for most producers under the leadership of the DRPIA. 6) The Producer Organizations (POs) should accept to merge their different organizations into a single APEX federated organization who would serve as their unique spokesperson on various policy, legal and regulatory issues.

TASK 2.1.2 STRENGTHEN HORIZONTAL LINKAGES TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIES OF SCALE

ANIMALS PURCHASED FOR BUSINESS FATTENING OPERATIONS: During the period under review, through August 15th, sixty-nine (69) POs and individual fatteners purchased 945 animals comprising 128 heads of cattle, 603 heads of sheep and 214 goats. These animals were fattened in Bankass, Bandiagara, Mopti, Diré, Goundam, Djenné and Koro. The total cost for these animals is estimated at 47,700,800 FCFA (about $95,402.00 US).

The total number of animals purchased during the month of July (before July 31st) for fattening (645) was a lot less than what was purchased in June for fattening (1,604). However, this is due to the fact that by July, there was not much time left to fatten an animal for sale and still make a decent profit during Tabaski sales.

FATTENED ANIMALS FOR SALE IN DOMESTIC MARKETS: The total number of fattened animals sold was 1,074 through August 15th. The value of the live animals sold to domestic markets from all Bandiagara, Niafunké, Goundam, Djenné, Bankass, Koro and Mopti cercles is estimated at 94,950,000 FCFA (or about $189,900.00 US). Cattle sales were only 15% of the total while sheep sales were 66% of the total and goats were the remaining 19% of the total.

VALUE OF LIVESTOCK EXPORTS: Forty-two (42) producers from Bankass exported 1,024 animals comprising 855 sheep and 169 cattle. Taking into account the price that these producers paid for their animals and the costs which they incurred to fatten them for export, they generated a gross margin of 99,942,500 FCFA (or about $199,885.00 US) when they sold them to buyers in Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire. This equals an average of 3,379,583 FCFA per producer (about $4,759.00 US). This indicates that livestock exports can be a lucrative business, if the marketing is well organized. (See Table 8 on the following page.)

Unfortunately, we did not record any exports of live animals coming from Koro or Djenne cercles. Livestock exports are function of many factors that include existing or new business opportunities that are known to producers and traders, the business acumen of producers and traders, timing, socio- economic relationships and connections between animal producers, including animal fatteners with the buyers in the export markets and the willingness of the producer and/or animal fattener to engage in export-oriented activities as opposed to domestic sales. While L4G aspires to train and encourage livestock producers and animal fatteners in all L4G target cercles to aspire to engage in livestock exports, it may be unreasonable to expect that there will be L4G project participants who do make export sales each and every time an opportunity presents itself, such at Tabaski. Many, if not most livestock 9 producers and animal fatteners amy simply prefer to sell in the domestic markets instead of export markets.

Table 8. L4G-sponsored Mali Livestock Exports to Ivory Coast and Senegal

Animals Purchase Gross Animals Sales Price Cercles Sellers Species Purchased Price Margin Sold (FCFA) for Sale (FCFA) (FCFA)

21 Sheep 855 855 149,315,000 57,899,000 Bankass 91,416,000 21 Cattle 169 36,617,500 169 78,661,000 42,043,500 Total 42 1024 128,033,500 1024 227,976,000 99,942,500

TASK 2.1.5: IMPROVE ACCESS TO FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES

In spite of the uncertainty due to insecurity, one of the L4G-sponsored Producer Organizations (POs) in Bankass known as “Ima Igré,” succeeded in obtaining a loan worth 600,000 FCFA (about $1,200 US) with the Guinedou MFI. This PO has 24 members, including 12 women. This suggests that once sufficient trustworthiness is built between POs and MFIs, well-managed POs are likely to obtain financial services.

COMPONENT IV. STRENGTHENED LOCAL CAPACITIES AND SYSTEMS

SUB IR 4.2 STRENGTHENED CAPACITY OF LIVESTOCK VALUE CHAIN ACTORS

Task 4.2.2 STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS ACUMEN OF LIVESTOCK VALUE CHAIN PARTICIPANTS

The final L4G sponsored training under this component took place on August 6th, when five members from L4G-sponsored umbrella organizations (3 from APESS and 2 from FEBEVIM) and 13 representatives from 6 advanced POs from Mopti and Djenné met at the L4G office in Bamako to learn more about the benefits of adhering to the OHADA standards and protocols. Three (3) women were among the workshop participants and everyone showed a keen interest in learning as much as possible, given that the L4G program ends soon. These organizations agreed to make a strong effort to obtain their respective OHADA certificates soon.

CROSS CUTTING ACTIVITIES

GENDER AND YOUTH: The L4G Gender and Youth Business Officer (GYBO) organized the final L4G program training on group/collective savings in Dire and Goundam. In Dire, these trainings involved 11 distinct POs comprising 296 participants, including 275 women (93% of the participants). In Goundam, the training was attended by 10 PO representatives, comprising 109 participants, including 61 women (56% of the participants). Every participant pledged to go back and apply the learned skills for the benefit of their respective organizations. Also in Dire Cercle, 30 people, representing the Dire’s Women and Youth platform, were trained in July on the techniques of collective saving schemes (management) as well as on the basic essential skills in hygiene (AEH) and nutrition (AEN). The proportion of women was 77%, or 23 out of a total of 29 participants.

PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS: On July 16th, L4G participated in the 28th USAID-COREM (Convergence pour la Resilience a Mopti) meeting. This is an event organized by USAID/Mali to enable all USAID implementing partners to share experiences and ideas with one another and to promote synergy and complementary actions in the Mopti region. During this meeting, which took place in the CARE office, various issues of interest were discussed with an emphasis on how to build a common strategy in response to the on-going insecurity in Mopti. Various ideas and experiences were shared. The next meeting is scheduled for October 10th in Sevare at CARE, by which time L4G will be deep into its Close-out Plan and therefore will not have anyone in the field to participate.

USAID/Mali FIELD SITE VISIT TO THE L4G PROGRAM

On July 17th, a delegation of USAID/Mali led by Mark Doyle (Private Sector Specialist), with Mamoutou Diarra (COR), Dabere Dembele and Amadou T. Traore visited the L4G program in Sevare. The visit took place at the Nana Agri cooperative at Diondori which is just a few blocks away from the L4G Sevare office. Nana Agri is a cooperative which has been working with L4G during the last couple of years. Several L4G staff as well L4G project participants from different parts of Mopti also participated. (See the group photo on below right.) During this visit, L4G L to R front row: Mrs. Nana (President of Mopti participants briefed the USAID/Mali delegation about what women platform); Mamoutou Diarra (COR); Mark Doyle (Head of Delegation); and Abdou Yahouza benefits they have earned through their cooperation with (DCOP). (Picture by L4G Staff) L4G.

Most L4G program participants spoke about how L4G strengthened their capacity to become better market-oriented producers. Some people also gave testimony about their ability to produce Multi- Nutritional Licking Blocks (MNLBs) for their own animals and for sale in the market, increasing their ability to earn extra income. Animal owners who use MNLBs and other L4G techniques spoke about the fact that they can now do the animal fattening in a much shorter time than before when they followed traditional animal fattening practices. They can now make lives animal sales 3 to 4 times a year, earning 3 to 4 times as much as income over the past. more per year than before. Other L4G project participants expressed their satisfaction about the annual Tabaski fair organized by L4G in Sevare which enables them to bring their live animals to a specific market for sales and to earn income. Women commended L4G for including training on A group picture with the USAID delegation in Sevare best practices in human hygiene and nutrition as this on July 17th. (Picture by L4G staff) prevented many of their family members, children in particular, from falling sick.

Other L4G participants said they were most excited about the possibility of dialing 37-321 to obtain readily available static livestock information through the VIAMO platform hosted by Orange telecom. They appreciate the fact that this information will remain available after L4G ends on September 27th. Indeed, one woman from Soccoura, Mopti, testified that since the livestock platform was launched by VIAMO and Orange telecom, she has been receiving phone calls from different parts of Mali, even late at night, from people seeking to purchase MNLBs from her. As a result, she is making more income today than ever before. On the whole, L4G considers this field site visit by USAID/Mali staff to have been a successful learning experience for them and the L4G project participants.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E): The M&E team continued their routine activities, which included the preparation of this Monthly Report and planning for the end of year annual data collection. In addition, the USAID/Mali COR, Mamoutou Diarra, and the USAID M&E Specialist, Ousmane Samake, met with the L4G team in Bamako. During this meeting, USAID/Mali encouraged the M&E staff to keep doing a good job in collecting data and documenting well any variances, so that appropriate lessons can be learned for more successful programming in future.

The DT Global Home Office met with the USAID/Mali designated Evaluation Team from ME&A (formerly known as Mendez England and Associates) who will be going to the field in Mali soon to evaluate the L4G program in tandem with the USAID/Mali Cereals Value Chain (CVC) project. The meeting was held in the temporary DT Global office space in Arlington, VA (USA). After the meeting, we also sent copies of all the L4G generated data, L4G Annual Reports, L4G Quarterly Reports and miscellaneous reports to the ME&A Evaluation Team Leader and ME&A designated staff or consultants.

The L4G CLOSE-OUT PLAN and EXIT AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN: Two major events are planned for mid to late August. First on Tuesday, August 20th, the L4G team will hand-over, in Sevare, to the 5 Water management Committees in the 5 communities all the documents and training materials which they will need to manage and maintain the equipment (e.g. borehole pumps, solar pumps, water towers, and water troughs) at those sites. A ceremony in the presence of the regional administration (Government of Mali representatives), USAID/Mali representatives and representatives from the select communes will be reported on in the L4G 5th and Final Annual Report. Second, on Thursday, August 29th, L4G has scheduled its Exit Seminar to be convened in Bamako. Invitations have been sent out and we hope to have between 100 and 125 participants.