Strengthening the Nutritional Resilience and Food Security of the Most Vulnerable in Mali

This project aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities mainly women and girls in the Mopti and Ségou regions of Mali. The project also aims to improve the food nutrition and health situation increase agricultural productivity and incomes of target populations while tackling the effects of climate change on food security in their communities. Project activities include: (1) rehabilitating health and drinking water infrastructure in health centers schools and households in targeted communities; (2) strengthening the prevention and management of malnutrition in children and pregnant and lactating women; (3) distributing nutritious meals to students; (4) organizing village savings and credit associations school gardens and income-generating activities for small producers particularly women; (5) creating and rehabilitating productive community assets (irrigated perimeter reforestation of drylands water collection systems etc.); (6) working to ensure joint management of the natural resources shared between farmers and herders; and (7) building the capacity of women to make informed decisions in households and communities by providing leadership training and raising awareness of gender equality in communities. The project is jointly implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of basic social services and safety nets and the adoption of adequate behaviors in terms of food nutritional and hygiene practices by the target populations in particular women and girls; (2) improved availability of and access to nutritious and diversified food and improved livelihoods especially for women; and (3) increased decision-making power and leadership of women in nutritional food and environmental issues and enhanced social cohesion.