The project PASSIP (Programme d'Appui au Sous-Secteur de l'Irrigation de Proximité) aims to enhance agricultural productivity as well as food and nutrition security in Mali by integrating innovative agroecological methods. The project focuses on improving small-scale irrigation systems, critical for a country that relies heavily on rain-fed agriculture and is vulnerable to climate change. By optimizing Mali"s natural water resources, the project seeks to increase the resilience of rural communities, where agriculture is the primary livelihood. The project started in 2008 and is currently in its fifth phase, which will end at the end of 2026.
The current phase has five outputs:
1) Output 1 is the adoption and implementation of the second Small-Scale Irrigation Promotion Programme (Programme d'Appui au Sous-Secteur de l'Irrigation de Proximité, PNIP 2.0). This updated version builds on lessons from PNIP 1.0 and integrates agroecological principles, gender-sensitive approaches, and nutrition. The aim is to improve water management and agricultural sustainability while promoting equity. PNIP 2.0 also includes mechanisms for national funding to support small-scale irrigation systems over the long term.
2) Output 2 supports the National Directorate of Agriculture (DNA) in implementing the National Agricultural Advisory Plan (Politique nationale de conseil Agricole, PNCA) and its National Agricultural Advisory System (Système national de conseil Agricole, SNCA). This framework brings together public and private sector actors to provide better agricultural advice to farmers. By strengthening advisory services, the project helps farmers adopt sustainable practices, improving productivity and resilience.
3) Output 3 promotes the sustainable use of irrigation systems by incorporating agroecological methods and addressing gender and nutrition concerns. Inclusive development plans are created in collaboration with farmers, local organizations, and authorities at selected sites. These plans ensure that the needs of vulnerable groups, such as women and youth, are considered.
4) Output 4 focuses on the development of a national agroecological transition strategy. This strategy will guide Mali"s shift toward sustainable agricultural practices.
5) Output 5 strengthens capacities for income-generating environmental services in watersheds, particularly to protect small-scale irrigation infrastructure. By improving water and soil management practices, the project creates economic opportunities while enhancing environmental resilience. The activities focus on training individuals in sustainable environmental practices.
Vulnerable groups, including women and youth, are given priority to ensure equitable benefits from the project"s activities. In addition, given Mali"s security challenges and the displacement of people, the project pays attention to IDPs, including them as an additional target group.
In summary, PASSIP not only enhances agricultural productivity through better water management but also promotes sustainable and inclusive agricultural development. By focusing on agroecological practices, gender equity, and community involvement, the project strengthens the resilience of Mali's agricultural sector while addressing the needs of vulnerable populations. Through its integrated approach, the project contributes to environmental sustainability and social well-being, creating a pathway for sustainable rural development in Mali.

I- Background

Mali, along with other countries in the Sahel, remains highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Agriculture is one of the major drivers of the Malian economy, accounting for around 36% of GDP. Moreover, the rural sector employs over 80% of the rural population, so investing in rural development helps to meet two priority objectives: reducing poverty and strengthening food and nutritional security. The country has around 43.7 million hectares of land that can be used for both agriculture and livestock farming, as well as significant groundwater and surface water resources (with a potentially irrigable surface area estimated at over 2.2 million hectares, 14% of which is currently irrigated (USAID, 2020)). The country also has one of the largest livestock populations in the sub-region, with over 12,848,696 head of cattle, 21,149,809 head of sheep and 29,201,079 goats, 1,291,233 head of camels, 607,786 head of horses, 1,190,567 head of asians, 88,262 head of pigs and poultry estimated at almost 54,703,373 (DNPIA, 2022). The forest estate covers almost 100 million hectares. The fauna is important and diversified, albeit poorly protected. The potential for fish production exceeds 200,000 tonnes per year, and the land available for aquaculture is estimated at 895,000 hectares (MEP, DNP). These references confer on Mali a great potential of natural agroecological wealth to be valorized (LOA 2006, Article 3).

Despite this significant agro-sylvo-pastoral and fishing potential, Mali is unable to fully cover its food needs and achieve a satisfactory and sustainable level of food security. The agricultural sector is exerting strong pressure on natural resources in conjunction with a rapidly growing population, creating an imbalance in ecosystems. Today, agricultural production systems are undergoing profound disruption as a result of recurrent droughts, climate change and human activity.

Poor farming practices are often the cause of soil, water and air pollution, the destruction of soil humus, the loss of biodiversity, the disappearance of conditions for applying farmers' knowledge and know-how, and so on. They also contribute to exacerbating the harmful effects of climate change.

This is why a paradigm shift is needed to move towards two priority objectives: food and nutritional security, and poverty reduction through adaptation to climate change in a sustainable and resilient manner.

In this context, it is necessary to rethink agriculture in order to reduce its dependence on the use of mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides that are harmful to humans and the environment, and thus reduce our food deficit. With this in mind, there is a need to think about alternative approaches and integrated management that focus on ecological processes, the relationships between agricultural ecosystems and the conservation of natural resources, while making the most of the diversity of natural knowledge and biodiversity.

This path of an agroecological transition aims to design agricultural systems that make the best possible use of ecological processes, while preserving the regenerative capacity of natural resources. Food systems that are socially equitable, respectful of the environment and adapted to socio-cultural realities play a key role in the fight against hunger. They also contribute to achieving food security and improving nutrition.

Given its capacity to respond to multiple challenges, investing in the promotion of large-scale agroecology is a strategic option for poverty reduction and the sustainable consolidation of food and nutritional security. This is why the Malian government supports the process of drawing up a consensual and strategic document on Agroecology Transition in Mali. The strategy does not impose new planning, but rather enables adjustments to be made to take better account of the issues involved in developing agroecology and green employment. It should strengthen rural communities through cooperation between research and partners to design and implement action-research programs to capitalize on, reinforce and disseminate knowledge of agro-ecological approaches; create a political and institutional environment that is favorable and conducive to the promotion of an inclusive agro-ecological transition in Mali.

II- Objectives, indicators, service packages, milestones

The overall objective of this tender is to carry out a diagnostic analysis of the transition to agroecology in Mali, to support the Ministry of Agriculture in the development of the national agroecology strategy in accordance with the national frameworks, and to carry out the Strategic Environmental Assessment study.

A. Diagnostic study of the Agroecological Transition in Mali in preparation for the development of a national agroecology strategy
B. Elaboration of the National Agroecology Strategy in Mali
C. Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Agroecology Strategy

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