Rural development and food security

The extension of this programme in 2021 marks a commitment to consolidate the achievements of this programme by continuing to strengthen and diversify agricultural income sources and rural food security, while developing key guidelines identified in the process of identifying the future indicative cooperation programme, and more specifically the economic integration of young people and women in the Ségou and Sikasso regions into occupations related to the agricultural sector. Indeed, inclusive development of their human potential through sustainable enhancement of production systems and economic development in the two regions is necessary to improve household incomes and mitigate or even prevent the spread of insecurity.

The extension intervention strategy focuses on agricultural value chains that offer income and employment opportunities for young men and women: fonio and sesame, to which will be added meat (fattening and poultry farming), market gardening and a few specific processing activities. The choice was made with regional stakeholders, taking into account the potential for integration, an average monetary income of 900,000 CFA francs per year, the potential for income autonomy, balanced integration prospects for young men and women, and the consolidation of previous actions. The programme is being implemented in the Ségou and Sikasso regions.

The overall objective remains the same as in the first phase of the programme, namely: ‘agricultural income sources and food security for rural households are diversified and strengthened in a sustainable manner’. A new specific objective has been identified: ‘young men and women in the Ségou and Sikasso regions benefit from greater economic opportunities in occupations related to the agricultural sector’.

The expected results are as follows:

• family farms develop opportunities tailored to young people's aspirations in resilient, sustainable and multi-sector production systems;
• private and cooperative initiatives linked to opportunity sectors for young people are facilitated through financial and non-financial services that enable value creation and decent economic integration;
• the capacities of actors at central and regional level are strengthened in the fulfilment of their mandate for more effective public-private partnerships based on mutual accountability.

In terms of targets, the number of young people targeted for integration is 1,100 men and 1,100 women. In addition, the value created in the sectors should make it possible to link 5,000 young people to new opportunities. Similarly, 3,000 family farms that include young women, young men and older women, and 500 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises that have been set up or employ young people are targeted. In addition, an initiative in the Yanfolila district targets 20 supported farmers' organisations representing 2,000 vulnerable women.