International Development Grant
Enhancing biosafety and biosecurity in Mali and the Middle East and North Africa
Project Number: CA-3-D004192001
Status: Closed
Country/Region:
Maximum Contribution: $365,388.00
Start Date: October 31, 2016
End Date: January 31, 2018
Duration: 1.3 years
Project Description
This project supports the development of a national biosafety and biosecurity strategy in Mali. This includes the planning and delivery of a biological risk management symposium and conference in Tunisia. Project activities included: (1) establishing a National Biosafety and Biosecurity working group composed of stakeholders from Mali’s Ministry of Health Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Security among others; (2) reviewing existing biosafety and biosecurity legislation in Mali and completing a gap-analysis of its national capacity; (3) reviewing best practices for the development of sound biosafety and biosecurity legislation; (4) developing a draft model biosafety and biosecurity legislation for Mali and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region; and (5) Planning and delivering the 1st annual Middle East and North Africa Biorisk Management Symposium in April 2017.
Expected Results
The expected outcomes of this project included: (1) enhanced whole-of-government approach for preparedness and response to biological risks in Mali; (2) more effective and comprehensive oversight of biological risks in Mali; (3) strengthened collaboration between biorisk management professionals in the MENA region; and (4) strengthened implementation of best-practices related to the safe and secure handling of biological materials in the MENA region.
Progress & Results Achieved
Results achieved as of February 2018 include: (1) developed and collated best practices on biosafety and biosecurity framework in Mali; (2) collated a list of existing guidelines and policy documents in Mali from 12 different government ministries; (3) established a national biosafety and biosecurity working group comprising of 15 members from relevant government ministries in Mali; (4) conducted 9 working group meetings to identify policy options for a new national Biosafety and Biosecurity Strategy in Mali and develop an implementation plan; (5) drafted terms of reference for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional network on Biosafety and Biosecurity; (6) 74 professional certifications issued to biosafety and biosecurity professionals in the MENA region; and (7) 3 workshops successfully held in the MENA region.
Key Information
Executing Agency:
International Federationof Biosafety Associations (IFBA)
Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada
Program:
YFMInternaAssistPartnershp&Programing Br
Last Modified:
September 19, 2025
Development Classifications
DAC Sector:
Aid Type: Project-type interventions
Collaboration: Bilateral
Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation
Selection Mechanism:
Foreign Affairs and Trade Gs&Cs