Ambassador Dennis B. Hankins officially launched the U.S. Government’s partnership with the Malian Government for a renewed five-year country plan to promote food security.  The event held at the U.S. Embassy in Bamako highlighted the new plan’s activities to boost resilience, strengthen agricultural growth, and improve nutrition for millions of Malians. 

The five-year strategy builds on the U.S. Government’s ongoing USAID Feed the Future initiatives, and supports Mali’s National Agricultural Investment Plan, the Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Action Plan, and National Resilience Priorities.  Through inclusive and sustainable agricultural-led economic growth, the activities under the plan will improve nutrition, and strengthen resilience for vulnerable populations in Sikasso, Koutiala, Bougouni, Mopti, and Tombouctou regions.  Mali is one of 12 partner countries selected by the United States for this new phase of the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative. Other countries included in the strategy are Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guatemala, Honduras, Kenya, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.

At the ceremony, Ambassador Hankins underscored the importance of investing in the agricultural sector to provide job opportunities for Malian youth, “This new five-year strategy invests in agriculture to feed the future, and to increase economic and job opportunities for young people to lead a more prosperous Mali.” 

The plan supports innovative activities to increase agricultural productivity for maize, rice, sorghum/millet and livestock, as well as helping families with new techniques for vegetable gardening and agroforestry to improve dietary diversity and sustenance.   

Under the plan, USAID and Feed the Future will also promote engagement with private sector partners to introduce innovative solutions to agricultural challenges in Mali.  The five-year plan also seeks increased domestic and international commercial opportunities for Malian agricultural products. 

Following the ceremony, there was an agricultural fair on the U.S. Embassy campus where Ambassador Hankins, and the Malian Minister of Agriculture Baba Berthe, and guests viewed an exhibition of agricultural products, and program results that were displayed by Feed the Future partners and beneficiaries.