Mali L4G Monthly Report: 20 January 2015

The event was marked by traditional Fulani and Dogon dances, and it was attended by the Governor of Mopti, USAID Mission Director Gary Juste, Prefets of Bankass and Koro, and other dignitaries and partners. The Mission Director noted the importance of the project for economic growth in Mali, while the Chief of Party Tom Gardiner and Deputy Chief of Party Abdou Yahouza discussed the problems and proposed solutions to increase livestock production in the Mopti region. Malian state TV covered the event, and the Malian Independent published a half-page article on January 19. The L4G team conducted a field visit to a village 8km outside of Bankass, which demonstrated the potential of water harvesting for increasing livestock fodder production. The village chief described how the population takes cover after the rains due to the sheer quantity of water cascading down the rock cliffs. The Mopti governor expressed interest in participating in the project, and the Mission Director and the Governor were engaged in the discussion. A workshop was held immediately following the launch to develop L4G focus village selection criteria and select the priority villages for project implementation. The workshop also included a discussion of dolique production and water harvesting structures. The L4G team held in-depth consultations with the Prefets and sous Prefets of Bankass and Koro on criteria for selection of L4G villages and start-up activities. The L4G project aims to increase livestock production in the Mopti region through the construction or rehabilitation of water harvesting structures. The project will focus on six villages in Bankass Cercle, which were selected for their excellent water harvesting potential. The L4G team has prepared a list of 208 villages selected for the implementation area, and a draft L4G fact sheet was submitted to USAID on January 16. A brochure was prepared and distributed at the launch event, and PowerPoint presentations were delivered to USAID on doliques, moringa, water harvesting, and climate-smart agriculture. The L4G project has made significant progress in its first month, with the launch event successfully demonstrating USAID and Malian government commitment to expanding the livestock sector. The project has also made progress in selecting priority villages for implementation and developing a plan for water harvesting structures. The project's focus on inclusive participation and community engagement is expected to contribute to its success.