Empowering women in agricultural markets through collective action Regional Stakeholder Dialogues in Mali 14 April 2010

Brief Overview of Project Empowering women in agricultural markets through collective action What is the project? A research, learning and communications project on women smallholders collective action in Sub-Saharan Africa. Who will benefit? Up to 500,000 smallholder women across the region who are beneficiaries of Oxfams livelihoods programmes. Project period: 1 Dec 2009 – 30 Nov 2011 Study countries: Ethiopia, Mali, Tanzania

Two phases Set up and detailed planning Detailed research design Primary data collection on benefits of collective action Analysis & Reporting Detailed research design Primary data collection on effective strategies Analysis & reporting Communications component – ongoing 6 months report Annual report Final report Advisory group Project evaluation and closure Stakeholder Dialogue Progress review June 2010December 2010November 2011 Phase 1: Research on Collective ActionPhase 2: Strategies for Enabling Gender Equitable Collective Action

Role of SDs in the project The purpose of SDs is to engage stakeholders in the research from the design phase onwards. SDs will help improve the quality of the research design, and promote wider awareness and buy-in of findings to encourage greater adoption of necessary changes in practice. Three rounds of regional and national SDs: First round (Apr 2010) Influence research design & initial data collection Second round (Nov-Jan 2010) Feedback on results & planning for phase 2 Third round (2011) Proposals for widening adoption of effective strategies

Project Team in Mali Oxfam staff: Aboubacar Traore & Aminata Maïga Researchers:Yacouba M.Coulibaly & Faoussatou Tadjou Focal point SNV: Assa Souko

Objectives of 1st round of regional SDs Raise awareness of the project and get regional stakeholders engaged in the research Identify and prioritize sub-sectors in the respective regions that will be the focus of the research * Develop initial inventory of collective action in selected subsectors Create a space where women can achieve greater visibility and where their opinions and concerns are heard * Note: Sub-sectors to be validated in the national stakeholder dialogue.

Meetings were convened by FENAFER & AOPP Who convened? Koulikoro Sikasso

Main groups of participants were: Who was there? Koulikoro Total: 27 participants 15 women producers 2 men producers 10 technicians from AOPP, SNV & DRA (5 women) Sikasso Total: 27 participants 18 women producers 3 men producers 6 technicians from AOPP, SNV &PCDA (2 women)

Methodology for regional SD Main steps: 1Group brainstorming of products produced in the region 2Identification of sub-sectors based on list of products in region 3Ranking, categorization and prioritization of sub- sectors 4Development of initial inventory of collective action through mapping of prioritized sectors

Ranking of sub-sectors

Example of matrix used for ranking of sub-sectors

Mapping of selected sub-sectors to identify collective action

Key outputs from regional SDs 1) Four selected subsectors per region: Koulikoro Millet/Sorghum Shea butter (Fisheries?) Ground nuts Organic sesame 2) Maps with inventory of collective action for selected sub-sectors 3) Commitment to share the methodology more widely Sikasso Rice Mango Shea Butter Pois sucre

Communications Extensive documentation (inc. video for sharing via national TV), reports and online (wiki)

Our project wiki – A web-based platform for wider networking and sharing

Four reps. from each regional SD will attend the National SD Photo: Reps from Sikasso Next steps Validate sub-sectors in national stakeholder dialogue (Apr 27) Inventory of collective action (May) Sampling and survey design (May-June) Implementation of survey & data analysis (Sep-Nov) Reporting and feedback on results (Nov 10-Jan 11) Next steps

Update from other countries Ethiopia R1-- March 18 R2 -- March 29 National – April 7 Final selected sub-sectors for Ethiopia are: Maize, Coffee, Ginger, Vegetables, Dairy & Honey R1 -- April 15 R2 -- April 19 National -- April 27 Tanzania

Questions?