Mali L4G Monthly Report: March 2015

The program is implemented by AECOM International Development under contract AID-688-C-14-00004. The program's primary focus is on enhancing livestock production, improving market linkages, and strengthening local capacities and systems. In the livestock production component, the program has made significant progress in implementing water harvesting techniques. Twenty work sites have been established along the Bandiagara Falaise in Bankass Cercle to rehabilitate destroyed dams and construct permeable dams. The L4G technical team, in collaboration with local villagers, has identified 12 sites in Kanikombole village where permeable rock dams can be built to harvest water and recharge aquifers. Five permeable dams are currently under construction, and five small fitted stone check dams have been finalized in Ende village. The community is also empowered to ensure that the major cement masonry dam functions as intended. The program has also made progress in promoting privatized veterinary services. A three-day workshop was organized to discuss the present situation of veterinary services in Bankass and Koro and strategize a clear path forward for privatization. Forty-seven people participated in the workshop, including ten women. Additionally, Dr. Amadou Mahamadou is training 12-15 private veterinarians in privatized veterinary services. In the livestock trade component, no significant progress was reported in March. However, the program is working to strengthen market linkages and access. The L4G staff implemented two simultaneous training workshops for Village Animators from March 17-19, focusing on animal fattening and access to credit through banks and microfinance institutions. At Koro, 25 Village Animators participated, and at Bankass, 26 Village Animators attended. The program has also made progress in strengthening local capacities and systems. The L4G field staff conducted a field study and identified 110 Producer Organizations (POs) in six Communes. Among the 110 POs identified, 32 are already working with the L4G program. The first Women's Livestock as a Business Platform and the first Youth Livestock as a Business Platform took place from March 24-25. The L4G team also trained 50 community leaders in fabrication of multi-nutritional salt licks and livestock supplementary feeding practices for the lean season. In the enabling environment component, the L4G staff conducted a field study and sensitization campaign that convinced four male property owners to provide written and legally registered land-on-loan deeds for 4.25 hectares of land. The land will be made available to approximately 200 female beneficiaries, who will have access to a minimum of 200 m2 of land to produce forage crops. The L4G team expects to further sensitize land owners to provide additional areas for long-term land access for women. The program has set several activities for the next month, including continuing to train POs in animal fattening and preventative animal health, building the privatized Vet Services system, and training and supporting the cadre of L4G gender-balanced Village Animators. The program will also continue water harvesting construction and training, begin training in precise layout of zero slope contour lines, and carry out L4G baseline data studies.