Publications

In June 2010 SNV, together with IFAD, organised a conference on ‘brokering knowledge for upscaling best practices in Inclusive Markets Access in East & Southern Africa’, which brought together over 70 participants from 11 African countries from donor, public and private sector to share experiences. This report summarizes the main issues discussed during the conference, of which the main focus was seeking to bring about systemic change for larger-scale sustainable inclusive markets with a wider significance.

A technical feasibility study on the implementation of a biogas promotion programme in the Sikasso region in Mali (2007).

Study findings in terms of technical feasibility revealed that although water resources availability was sufficient for a biogas system, and the average temperature allowed for the installation to function, collecting manure difficulties proved to be the biggest challenge, as it was not guaranteed throughout the year due to the temporary migration in the dry season. Further, the number of families that do have cattle around the household year-round was too small. A biogas system that requires daily input was, therefore, not feasible in the studied context. In terms of energy consumption, kerosene was the most widely lighting source used and its costs were constantly rising which was seen as a considerable problem by rural households. Further, if biogas was to be introduced, both men and women would use it mainly for lighting and not for cooking. In terms of financing, it was concluded that even with a high subsidy the value of the biodigester was considered insufficient.

Based on the study results, it was concluded that biogas introduction would most likely be unsuccessful in the studied region. Firstly, this is because there is absence of a regular supply of dung at most farms. Secondly, the costs for the biogas plant construction are high because of the need for large batch-fed plants, and thirdly, gas would only be used for lighting which makes other renewable energy sources more suitable.

Programme de Développement Economique Rural de la Région de Koulikoro (DERK), qui a succédé à une première intervention de la SNV sur le développement des filières Karité et Céréales sèches dans le cercle de Dioïla a été perçu comme programme expérimental. Grâce aux principes et approches novateurs sur lesquels ce programme s’est appuyé, des résultats forts intéressants et des leçons bien enrichissantes ont été enregistrés. A partir de septembre 2010, un processus de capitalisation a été entrepris pour documenter et publier ces résultats et ces leçons apprises. Notons, que, les résultats obtenus sont les fruits du développement d’une approche multi- acteurs par la Chambre Régionale d’Agriculture de Koulikoro avec l’accompagnement de la SNV autour des chaînes de valeurs agricoles.
Ce document est publié afin de contribuer à la réflexion des autorités, des partenaires techniques et financiers et d’autres programmes en vue d’une meilleure orientation des actions futures en faveur du développement des activités des organisations paysannes actives dans les chaînes de valeurs. Cette publication permettra au lecteur de comprendre le dynamisme des acteurs des chaînes de valeurs agricoles appuyées, leur mode de vie, leur pensée, leur capacité d’adaptation et de surmonter des situations difficiles, leur accès au financement, leur accès aux marchés.

The 2012 SNV Mali annual report gives an insight of activities undertaken during the year in the country. The report also includes illustrations depicting the year achievements in Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Health and Tousrim.

SNV West and Central Africa is presenting through the 2011 case study anthology, a selection of its regional interventions. The different cases present the various contexts in which we operate, our approaches and their sustainability, who we work with and our results.

This document sought to analyse our work in the view of getting out the lessons learned from our experiences with regards to what has work and what has not. Besides, the anthology is a tool for knowledge sharing and learning for other organisations or individuals who may wish to scale up the work initiated.