Mali is a semiarid; landlocked; low-income country characterized by a predominantly rural economy and by chronic food insecurity. Agriculture is the largest sector in the economy representing more than 41 percent of GDP but faces severe challenges from climate change and increasing human pressure. Food insecurity is pervasive. Projections for the 2025 food security situation for the period (lean season June-August 2025) are: 1;470;114 people (6.25% of the total population) will be in phase 3 or worse; including 3;477 (0.01%) in catastrophe; 97;464 (0.41%) in emergency; and 1;369;173 (5.82%) in crisis. The number of people who may be under pressure is 4;034;577 (17.15%). The government is currently implementing an agriculture and safety net project; the Agricultural Productivity and Diversification Development Project in Semi-Arid Zones (PDAZAM); which aims to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen the resilience of rural households living in targeted arid areas. Beneficiaries for the program were selected with the help of village and commune committees; with community validating forming the last step of the targeting exercise. This study aims to understand the role that these committees are playing and their perception by beneficiaries through in-depth qualitative research.