Women’s & Girls’ Empowerment Project / Civil Society Governance (PEF-GS) CARE Mali – “Maaya Danbe” Funded by the Norwegian Government through CARE Norway The role of VSLAs in building resilience in the Sahel through the cereal bank approach Olivier Keita E-mail: Olivier.Keita@care.org Final evaluation available at the CARE evaluations e-library at http://www.careevaluations.org/evaluation/mali-gender-equality-and-womens-empowerment-programme-ii-gewep-ii-2016-2019/

WHY THE CEREAL BANK APPROACH? One of the expected outcomes of the program for the period 2016-2019 is: Strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable women and girls to climate risks and disasters In order to achieve this result, (and in addition to other actions to strengthen resilience of women and girls; implementation of vegetable gardens; capacity building on women's leadership in planning, implementing and monitoring crisis and disaster response actions, nutrition education, etc.), the program focused on an innovative approach (cereal banks) supported by the MJT networks that provides added value in reducing the vulnerability of women/girls and children repeatedly affected by climate crises.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR CEREAL BANKS   The establishment of a cereal bank is based on data available in the documents below. Early Warning System (EWS) Report (identifies vulnerable communes in Mali) The ''Grain Bank Project'' file (justification, feasibility, profitability, sustainability, etc.) Network functionality report (compliance with governance principles) In all communities, it is undeniable to recognize that local expertise is a priority for CARE Mali and its partners and the success of their projects/initiatives. Thus, a series of trainings/animations is initiated for the members of the cereal bank management committees. The themes are about: Administrative and financial management (drafting of internal regulations, governance issues, maintenance of management supports, etc.) Constitution of stocks (storage techniques and standards) Women's leadership in planning, monitoring and responding to crises and disasters Social negotiation techniques/advocacy

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BENEFICIARIES’ NETWORKS Financial contribution from the networks up to 5% of the cost of the Cereal Bank. Men's involvement alongside women through: Construction of storage warehouses, handling (transport and storage) of cereal bags, treatment of warehouse. In addition to the share quotas, 37 cereal banks were built from women’s own funds, totalling a value of CFAF 19,233,375. Used collective fields and mobilized in-kind support funds through the provision of services. Services provided by women whose dividends enable them to provide more grain to cereal banks.

RESULTS BY 31 DECEMBER 2018 A total of 632 cereal banks have been established, including: Mopti: 183 cereal banks; Segou: 118 Cereal banks; Timbuktu: 331 Cereal banks The impact group: 142,500 (women & girls) Number of direct beneficiaries: 107,164 (women & girls) Improved food and nutrition security: 107,164 out of a forecast of 142,500, or 75.20% The analysis shows that the percentage of households that suffered shocks and had to sell domestic assets was 10.9% (ref. GEWEP II Final Evaluation Report in 2018) compared to 43% in 2016 (ref. Baseline 2016), which is a positive development Management & leadership skills: 20,009 women were strengthened on leadership in planning, implementation and monitoring of responses to crises and disasters 1,982 men were also strengthened on leadership in planning, implementing and monitoring responses to crises and disasters

LESSONS LEARNED The ''MJT'' approach is a guarantee of real socio-economic and political empowerment of women/girls and the sustainability of any action initiated in their favour; The cereal bank approach initiated by the project is now a sustainable and effective strategy for the resilience of women and girls in the MJT networks, even whole communities during the lean season (July-September); The use of gender-sensitive tools in communal planning has made it possible to take into account the concerns of the program’s priority impact groups (women and girls); The partnership approach for implementation is a sure way to ensure the sustainability of the program’s actions and their scaling up; The articulation/interrelation between ''MJT Networks - Coalitions of Engaged Men'' has been a real breath of fresh air for the success of the cereal bank approach both in the acquisition of land and in the construction of storage warehouses and handling during the various operations.  

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