WASHINGTON, February 28, 2017—The World Bank approved a $30 million International Development Association (IDA)* credit and a $30 million IDA grant for the Mali Livestock Sector Development Support Project (PADEL-Mali).
The project will benefit 340,000 livestock-producing people and small-scale livestock operators and enterprises, including poultry and fish farming households and operators, of whom at least thirty percent will be women and at least thirty percent will be youth below the age of forty.
PADEL-Mali will be implemented in all regions of Mali and its objectives are to “enhance productivity and commercialization of non-pastoral animal production in selected value chains - meat and milk, chicken and eggs, aquaculture, beekeeping - and strengthen Mali’s capacity to respond to an eligible crisis or emergency,” said Marianne Grosclaude, World Bank Practice Manager for Agriculture in West Africa.
The livestock sector is key for the Malian economy, behind gold and cotton. Its support is critical for wealth creation, as well as to reduce poverty and share prosperity in rural areas.
“The new PADEL-Mali project will support the development of sedentary livestock systems and value chains and is an essential complement to the existing Regional Sahel Pastoralism Support Project (PRAPS); it integrates the World Bank Group portfolio very deliberately to provide support to the whole livestock sector in Mali,” said Soukeyna Kane, World Bank Country Director for Mali.
The project is expected to improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries, including small-scale producers; it will not only strengthen the quality of services provided to the livestock sector in Mali (animal health services, artificial insemination, extension, policy making, etc.), but also strongly support private investment to create employment at the farm and industry level and reduce the trade deficit by enhancing exports of animal products, and curbing imports of other products such as eggs and milk. Ultimately, the project will increase tax revenues flowing to the government from increased economic activity in the formal livestock sector.
“Livestock, including fisheries and aquaculture, is a key sector of the Malian economy and a key productive activity for more than eighty-five percent of the Malian population. Through innovation in designing two specific financing windows, PADEL-Mali will provide unique investment opportunities for the private sector and for financial institutions in Mali to intensify production and modernize livestock value chains,” said Christian Berger, World Bank Task Team Leader for the project.
This project will also contribute to achieve main objectives of the Country Partnership Framework by creating economic opportunities for women and young people and by combating poverty and food insecurity.
* The World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 75 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.5 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 113 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 54 percent going to Africa.
