NEW! GIS Corner:
USAID/Mali is focused on utilitizing the power of GIS mapping to help achieve our development goals and objectives. We believe that spatial analysis of our activities can help us in the planning stages of all our work in Mali. GIS can also be a useful tool for collaboration between our various partners.
Click on the map thumbnail below to visit our new GIS page:
All Activities in Mali by Communes
Malian Proverbs:
"Exchange/conversation with others is bliss (creates an atmosphere of understanding and happiness)""
"A group of birds flying togethor makes noise."
"If the Shea worm doesn't come down from the tree, it's desire for shea fruit will make it go up."
"Don't eat poison with a humble face."
"A person cannot fry an egg without breaking the shell."
"Now is better than never."
Some Project Photos... Women's Network received sewing machines and solar powered radios in the village of Fatoma, Mopti Region Community Telecenter provides internet service in Djenne Irrigation Pump for System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Program in Mopti Region Mango processing/drying in Sikasso Region
“To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean water flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.”
-President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address, January 20,2009
USAID Mali Headlines:
Official launch of Mango Processing Facility: COMAFRUIT-MALI
(See slide show of launch above)
COMAFRUIT-MALI, a mango processing facility assisted by the USAID-funded Integrated Initiative for Economic Growth in Mali (IICEM) project, was officially launched on July 12, 2010.
The COMAFRUIT-MALI plant moves Malian products to international markets while creating employment and revenue along the mango value chain. Production started in 2010 and they have thus far purchased about 1,000 tons of fresh mangos to process 500 tons of puree and reasonably estimate to purchase 2,000 tons of fresh mangos by the end of the season for 1,000 tons of puree. Mangos and other fresh produce are sensitive goods prone to spoilage during handling and shipment. Processing the mangos to aseptic pulp allows Malians to tap into the European market for fruit pulp that can be transformed into juice and other products.
Through IICEM, USAID’s Accelerated Economic Growth program works with more than 3,000 small producers and harvesters to supply the factory. IICEM has trained 200 local producers in villages to supervise harvesting techniques, grade and standards, crating and transportation. These people in turn work with other producers. Improving phytosanitary and quality control is crucial for meeting European market requirements and product competitiveness in the international market.
The plant expects to process about 10,000 tons in fresh mango for 5,000 tons of pulp for next year’s campaign. As the mango season ends, they will also be looking at tomato processing. Extending the months in production will increase and smooth revenue streams throughout the year, create additional employment and provide new market opportunities for small producers
The official opening was held in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce’s Agency for the Promotion of Investment in Mali. USAID Mali Acting Director, James Graham, took part in the event along with Ahmadou Abdoulaye Diallo, the Malian Minister of Industries, Investment, and Commerce.
Feed the Future (FTF):
The new Feed the Future (FTF) Global Health and Food Security Initiative website has just been launched. You can see the website here: www.FeedtheFuture.gov
The Feed the Future (FTF) vision is described on the website as follows:
Feed the Future pursues two paths: (1) addressing the root causes of hunger that limit the potential of millions of people; and (2) establishing a lasting foundation for change by aligning our resources with country-owned processes and sustained, multi-stakeholder partnerships. Through our leadership in this initiative, we advance global stability and prosperity by improving the most basic of human conditions – the need that families and individuals have for a reliable source of quality food and sufficient resources to access and purchase it.
FTF and other U.S. government priorities – including global health and climate change – allow us to confront the growing challenges of global poverty, disease, water scarcity, climate change and depleting natural resources. By addressing these complex challenges and promoting our values, we protect our own security and lay the foundation for a more peaceful and prosperous future for all.
Click here to open the PDF Feed the Future Guide , 1.2 MB
Global Shea 2010 Conference:
March 16th -19th the annual Global Shea 2010 Conference was held at the Laico L'Amitie hotel in Bamako, Mali. Here's a quote from the West African Trade Hub website about shea butter and its growing international market:
"Nature’s protection for skin is held inside the shea nut. The world is discovering shea butter and its amazing skin-care qualities. Shea butter is also an ingredient in food products, from chocolate to ice cream to biscuits. The Trade Hub is working with shea nut and shea butter companies to build a competitive industry .
The livelihoods of millions of West African women is directly tied to shea nuts that come from trees that grow in a zone south of the Sahel. The nuts have been used for generations to make shea butter and shea oil, which have a multitude of uses, from lotions to soap to cooking oil. The export of shea nuts and shea butter has grown substantially in the last five years. Consumer demand for the natural cosmetics made with shea butter continues to grow as does demand in the specialty fats industry."
- West African Trade Hub website
The event was organized by the West African Trade Hub which receives funding from USAID West Africa in part to enhance and organize the shea butter trade industry to promote economic growth in the West African region..
The event was a great success with people from all over the world coming together looking to make connections and to learn more about the growing shea butter industry. The Prime Minister, Modibo Sidibe, came to the event along with a dozen or so ministers from the Malian government. The US Ambassador, Gillian Milovanovic was also present along with the director of the West African Trade Hub, Vanessa Adams. There were some great speeches along with plenty of vendors showing off their best natural products made from pure shea butter.
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President’s Malaria Initiative:
The President's Malaria Initiative is a five-year, $1.2 billion effort
designed to reduce malaria-related
deaths by 50 percent in 15
countries by achieving 85 percent coverage of proven preventive
and curative interventions.
Initiative includes: scale up interventions for prevention and treatment, including
expanded access to accepted drugs and combination therapies, insecticide-treated
nets and indoor residual spraying, as well as preventive treatment
of pregnant women
A minimum of 50 percent of funding to be devoted to purchase and
distribution of life-saving commodities.
The
Goal is to benefit a total of 175 million people.
See video introduction to USAID Mali's Indoor Residual Spraying program (French) below:
Bridging the Communications Gap in Northern Mali
One of the many dreams of the communities of Bourem Inaly, Lerneb and Almoustarat came true this June. USAID and its partner Africare inaugurated three new radio stations in these communities, opening the door to new means of sending and receiving information, thus bridging the communications gap between people of these communities. USAID and Africare decided to create 14 new FM radio stations in northern Mali because this region is remote, prone to conflict, and suffers from extreme poverty and scarcity of natural resources. The 14 selected communities are provided with comprehensive community radio “packages”, including FM radio transmitters, 2-way communication radio transceivers, WorldSpace satellite receivers, televisions, satellite dishes and VCRs.
Last Updated on: July 20, 2010