MAIN FINDINGS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT EXERCISE More Effective and Sustainable Investments in Water for Poverty Reduction MAIN FINDINGS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT EXERCISE Preapared by FAO’s Land and Water Division in collaboration with IWMI MALI 1. Introduction The first phase of the GCP/INT/167/IWM project aimed to conduct a needs assessment analysis that allowed the identification of needs, relevance, potential and opportunities for improving the impact and effectiveness of agricultural water management interventions in terms of: research technical assistance training policy support The methodology followed was structured in five main steps: (1) stakeholders’ analysis; (2) inception workshop; (3) interviews and field visits; (4) discussion with country team on the preliminary results; and (5) a validation workshop. All these steps culminated in the preparation of the needs assessment report. This brief presents the main findings of such report. 2. Methodology Stakeholders consulted 18-23 July 2015 Stakeholders from the following organizations/projects with interest and influence in AWM were interviewed: Danaya association (women producing vegetables in Baroueli-Est and Bla-Koko) Individual farmers CVECA/Niono FANTA JIGI-FASO (NGO) ARPASO Cooperative (300 ha of rice) OPIB/Baguineda (3000 ha irrigation scheme) Cooperative of vegetable producers Ministry of rural development, MDR (different departments) PFN – Sahel Initiative Irrigation Project European Union Labo SEP- IER (fisheries) ADRS DNH (Monitoring and evaluation) FAO OICM (consultant’s association) IFAD (project officer) 2. Inception workshop 23 July 2015 It gathered 19 stakeholders from the organizations listed in point #1. The following activities were completed: i) Project was presented | ii) List of stakeholders was finalized | iii) Information to make the interviews and data collection more precise | iv) Main challenges in AWM were identified | (v) Main priorities and challenges on AWM interventions were identified 3. Interviews and field visits 12 August – 15 September 2015 Overview of the 21 people interviewed: Field visits: One IFAD supported project in two regions: 1. PAPAM project (Baruelu and Bla regions). Vegetable production. Other two projects: 2. PCDA project (Segou region). WB) 3. Vegetable producing scheme (Samanko /Bamako). 4. Validation workshop 27 October 2015 It gathered 12 stakeholders from some of the organizations listed in point #1.

Views from stakeholders at national level MAIN FINDINGS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT EXERCISE MALI 3. Identified relevant AWM interventions in the country The criteria used to define most relevant technologies was their contribution to poverty reduction. The following graph is based on the consultations/interviews held within this project. According to the graph, the three most relevant technologies are: Pumping technologies Shallow and deep wells Water harvesting In the sites visited, pumping technologies included: solar pumping and manual pumps. Very important for the development of vegetable gardens. The assessment report cites as examples micro dams and water tanks. 4. Identified stakeholders priorities on AWM Views from stakeholders at national level Views from farmers Access to technologies, services and information (including value chain) Social and equity problems in AWM projects and programmes (including gender aspects) Environmental problems and climate change issues Financing of AWM investments at different levels Institutional aspects such as political organizations and regulations Access to finance through affordable credits Improving production systems (technologies, practices, soil management, etc.) Water availability for irrigation Operation and Maintenance of infrastructure More Effective and Sustainable Investments in Water for Poverty Reduction

MAIN FINDINGS OF NEEDS ASSESSMENT EXERCISE MALI 5. Identified areas with potential to contribute to better AWM management Information presented under this section is taken from discussions held in stakeholders workshop and the results of the questionnaires. 1. Capacity Development Strengthen institutional capacities of decentralized organizations Strengthen capacities of farmers (in terms of organization, equipment and technology packages) Strengthen capacities to acquire and manage emerging technologies such as solar pumping Strengthen marketing channels and capacities of actors along the value chain Provide training on the Operation and Maintenance of infrastructure and equipment Provide training to associations on (financial) accounting Support access to information on crop production Training of extension services in crop production Support the local production of technologies by providing training on their manufacturing Subsidize the purchase of AWM technologies 2. Institutions and governance Provide financial support to the primary sector Decentralization of institutions at regional level to get closer to farmers Establish « synergy committees » among projects (they would collect information, monitor activities, disseminate technologies, assess products, etc.) Support the elaboration and application of appropriate regulations and normative documents Support the set up of a technical and financial audit systems for organizations in charge of AWM (associations, Cooperatives) Support the update of the land tenure law Strengthen the political dialogue in order to promote access to technologies 3. Technologies: Use of pumps  Improve access to AWM technologies Set up a financing mechanism to make emerging technologies more affordable Promote initiatives to involve the private sector 4. Project / Programme Design Promote and provide training on participatory approaches Support the establishment of an approach and appropriate tools to ensure sustainability of activities Support at the project identification phase to ensure a good match between the technology and the project area Support the elaboration of planning guidelines and tools (National Irrigation Master Plan, National Irrigation Map, etc.) 5. Research Promote adaptive research to improve on-farm water management/irrigation scheduling as well as on-farm economic management Support research on the development of AWM technologies   More Effective and Sustainable Investments in Water for Poverty Reduction