MALI RURAL WORKS

IN HELPING COMMUNITIES DEVELOP RURAL ACTIVITIES, PROJECT ASSISTS GOM IN TESTING A DECENTRALIZED APPROACH IN SUPLYING TA AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO LOCALLY-BASED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. AID ALSO WILL PROVIDE GRANT FUNDS FOR SUB-PROJECTS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL. COUNTRY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER(CDO/BAMAKO) WORKS TOGETHER WITH HOST COUNTRY COUNTERPARTS. BENEFICIARIES ARE THE VILLAGERS IN SAHEL COMMUNITIES WHERE PROJ IS IMPLEMENTED. INDIRECT BENEFITS ULTIMATELY WILL ALSO ACCRUE TO MALIANS OUTSIDE THE SAHEL IN BETTER SUPPLY OF FOODAT LOWER COST, REDUCED DEPENDENCE OF SAHEL COMMUNITIES ON NATIONAL SUPPORT RESOURCES, AND GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE COUNTRY. VILLAGERS WHO EXPERIENCE SUCCESS FROM WORKS THEY HELP DESIGN ARE MOST IMPORTANT BENEFICIARIES. HERDERS WITH BETTER PASTURE LAND AND FARMERS WITH IMPROVED MARKETING FACIL WILL ALSO BE BENEFICIARIES. PROJ DELEGATES RESPONSIBILITY TO AID FIELD OFFICE. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: TESTING A DECENTRALIZED APPROACH FOR INCREASING ROLE OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS IN DEVELOPING PROGRAMS. 2. ESTABLISHING A NATNL COORDINATOR FOR RURAL COMMUNITY DEVELOP (RCD) PROGRAMS WITHIN GOM"S MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT. 3. IMPROVING TECHNICAL AND ADMIN SUPPORT OF MALIAN AGENCIES FOR LOCALLY-BASED INITIATIVES. 4. TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR VILLAGERS PARTICIPATING IN PROJ ACTIVITIES AND FOR 16 RCD AGENTS. IN ADDITION, TRNG IN THE US WILL BE PROVIDED FOR 4 RURAL COMM DEVL REGIONAL COORDINATORS. 5. CONSTRUCTING/REPAIRING NEARLY 200 RURAL WORKS AND COMMUNITY ENTERPRISE ACTIVITIES IN A TOTAL OF 8 SAHELIAN DISTRICTS OF MALI. AFRICAN BUREAU EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF PROJECT REVIEW (ECPR) HAS RECOMMENDED THAT NO MORE THAN 2 SUBPROJECTS IN THE $50000-$100000 RANGE BE CONSIDERED FOR FUNDINGTO LESSEN THE DEMAND SUCH PROJECTS WOULD PRESENT TO TECHNICIANS RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DESIGN AND FEASIBILITY ANALYSES. OTHER DONORS: PEACE CORPS.