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Abstract
Recognizing that science and technology research (S&T) is one of many inputs into the
broader development process, USAID/Mali, via its Initiative to End Hunger in Africa,
requested an assessment of the current S&T situation in Mali. USAID asked the
assessment team to produce a comprehensive strategic options plan for a Malian S&T
agenda that would identify priority short-term actions to stimulate uptake of S&T results
likely to make significant contributions to the attainment of Mali’s broad development
goals, while simultaneously developing a coherent longer-term action plan to maintain
and improve the human, physical, and financial capital needed to generate future streams
of S&T results. The scope of work for the assessment team included six points:
• Review the current status of agricultural and natural resource programs of Mali’s
research institutions, with particular attention to IER, IPR/IFRA, LCV;
• Review and assess the programs of International Agriculture Research Centers
(IARCs) and other international foundations supporting research in Mali;
• Annotate the range of USAID-supported S&T programs in Mali;
• Identify available production technology packages and needed support services to
achieve rapid (medium-term) impact and identify gaps in S&T programs that
hinder attainment of GRM development goals;
• Develop a strategic options plan to build needed S&T capabilities, including those
for research and supporting institutional development;
• Make recommendations for potential USAID/Mali actions, including building
partnerships with public and private organizations that would enhance the
effective use of S&T for achieving USAID programmatic goals