The theory of change

The UE-APSAN-Mali project aims to improve food and nutrition security through the increase in cereals and legumes productivity and farmers’ income. It is focused on a result-based framework using complementary approaches ensuring the impact pathways effectively leading to the achievement of the targeted results.

A first set of activities concerns the promotion of varieties developed under previous projects and now ready for commercial uses as per ECOWAS rules. This promotion will integrate as well good agronomic practices and will be done through awareness creation (demonstrations plots, field days, rural radios, etc.). The activities also include the strengthening of seed systems and the linkage of farmers to inputs suppliers (improved seed and fertilizer).

A second set of activities is focused on the modernization of sorghum, pearl millet, groundnut and cowpea improvement programs through a demand driven approach and the use of modern tools. The market demands will be assessed and the outputs used to define the main products requested. This step will be followed by the development of climate resilient and nutrient dense cultivars with the specific needs of farmers/market in the targeted zones. All these activities will be realized through participatory approach and effective public-private partnership with farmers as central actors.

A third set of activities concern the implementation of regional trials, trainings and data management to reinforce the ECOWAS seed catalogue. The capacity building of next generation breeders and associated disciplines in crop improvement will be a cross cutting activities.

The project will build its interventions on lessons learned from previous technology scaling projects and will synergize with on-going projects (ABEE and AVISA) on the target value chains to create more impact. The result-based framework captures expected outputs, outcomes and impacts through performance indicators. It also includes monitoring, evaluation, and learning system using a digital based platform that combines continuous monitoring of the progress in real-time, evaluation surveys, and learning activities with key stakeholders to support field activities. Furthermore, it ensures that the project activities are being implemented as planned, supports data quality management, and identifies good lessons learned.