Supported by: IUCN National Committee for the Netherlands, Both ENDs and Wetlands International.

Mains issues to be addressed:

Degradation of natural resources; barren land; low technical and financial capacities of the civil society; weak governance and enforcement of policies; ineffective land and tree tenure systems and scarce livelihood alternatives (is this not support for ARN, to define revenues and processing options, also for women groups, lobby towards districts and ministry of agriculture in order to mainstream ARN).

Desired end situation in 2015:

1. 1. WHAT: Desired end situation: what are the key results that we want to achieve in 2015?

Theme 1 – Livelihoods and Ecosystems

The main objectives under this goal are creating sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems. We will do this mainly by creating better governance and enforcement of policies and capacity building of CSOs and beneficiaries target group. Building capacity of CSOs will lead to better knowledge and skills at community level, paving way to sustainable use of natural resource, and further lead to preservation and restoration of ecosystems. In particular the following specific results will be achieved under this theme by 2015:

• A total of 9000 households have adopted ANR and other ecosystem  restoration practices providing 30% more in basic needs (incl. income).
• A total of 20 000 ha of community land  in the Mopti area have recovered productivity and function through ANR
• All the 7 Malian CSOs become more professional and able partners.
• 80 CBOs and rural communities have improved knowledge and skills in the work on ecosystem-poverty linkages.

Theme 3: Ecosystems, people and climate

The main goal under this theme is to strengthen climate change policies and practices that support local livelihoods, maintain and restored ecosystems for effective climate change adaptation and mitigation. Under this theme the following results will be attained by 2015:

In the Plaine de Seri of the Inner Niger Delta:

• A total of 3000 ha “bourgou” rangeland restored through planting, and participatory access regulations in place under improved management, buffering climate impacts.
• A total of 22000 ha inundated forest restored through the planting of Acacia Kirkii tree species
• A total of 5 fishing pond ecological functions restored of the floodplain, and managed sustainably, buffering climate impacts.

This will be achieved by (1) promoting increased involvement of the civil society in developing a legal framework for implementation of climate change adaptation, (2) restoration of natural ecosystems that buffer against impacts of climate change through Assisted Natural Regeneration and (3) carrying out community conservation initiatives that support nature-based adaptation.

EA work in Mali

The EA work in Mali is focused on ANR (Assisted Natural Regeration) and ecosystems restoration. A combination of site-based restoration projects, lobby, capacity building and livelihoods alternatives will be carried out.

Assisted Natural Regeration: ANR projects will be carried out (1) on agricultural landscapes in Mopti Region (the Inner Niger Delta and Badiangara ;  (2) within and around the  Bafing fauna Reserve in parklands in the moist-humid Guinean zone (Southern Mali) in and around Manantali, Kita, Kayes,

.

Activities include reforestation of degraded sites, patrolling for illegal activities, capacity building of CBOs and local communities, providing alternative livelihoods, developing participatory local conventions.

Capacity building: Capacity building efforts  are aimed either to improve individuals’ skills or aspects of organisational capacity, or both. Increase insight in yields of ARN, including impact on food security, define optimal processing options, esp for women groups and lobby towards higher policy levels (distrcits and ministries) Organisation capacities may include vision, leadership and governance, financial management, physical and technical resources and infrastructure; human resources and their management; project management and monitoring and evaluation. networks and partnerships communications and fundraising.

Which partners are best placed to contribute to the program

Local partners working on ecosystem restoration in and around  Protected areas:  ECO Sahel, COPAGEN, Tree Aid, AMCFE, AMPRODE, DONKO, HDS, and ODI SAHEL.

Key Stakeholders

IUCN Mali office, Regreening Africa Initiative, ICRAF,and Ministry of Environment and Agriculture.

SYNERGIES

First of all mapping of both organizations activities will be carried out to avoid duplication. The Added-value of the tandem IUCN NL-Both Ends in Mali may be on policy influencing, defining strategies to incorporate ARN in policy of districts (fiscalisation of revenues from ARN) and in curriculum of ministry of agriculture and its ntfp unit.  IUCN NL works with local organizations towards sustainability of resource use and Biodiversity conservation. Meanwhile Both Ends provides expertise for lobbying and strengthening of regional networks. Both ENDS will support SahelEco in strengthening and expanding its existing network of village ANR practitioners in Mopti and Segou area. Important is also developing processing options for tree products (esp fruits) together with village cooperatives and esp women groups. IUCN NL site-based actions may feed Both Ends lobby strategies. For instance a common deliverable may be lobby for the inclusion of ANR in terms of  coverage and adoption in the national extension and forestry programs.

Added value in relation to other programs, initiatives

The alliance will align in Mali with programs of the following key stakeholders:

Civil society

• Dutch: ICCO, Oxfam Novib, WI, SNV, CARE International, Regreening Africa Initiative
• Non-Dutch (external stakeholders): IUCN, Swiss Helvetas

Government agencies

• The embassy of the Netherlands
• Mali Directorat for Water and Forests (DNEF)

International donors

UNDP/GEF, World Bank