Blog Mali: reconnecting science and policy for climate-resilient agriculture

Between 2019 and 2024, four major signals simultaneously challenged the fragile balance between climate, agriculture, and governance in Mali. First, weather patterns intensified: sudden floods in Mopti, heatwaves in Kayes, flash droughts in Kidal. Events that used to be years apart now occur within a single season. Second, production indicators declined. The Institute of Rural Economy recorded average losses of 17% for millet, 14% for sorghum, and 11% for cowpea; at the same time, the rainy season shortened by fifteen days. Third, cereal inflation surged: from 2021 to 2024, the price of a sack of millet rose by 28%, pressuring families’ dietary diversity. Lastly, the information system is fragmented. While the National Directorate of Agriculture collects crop data, the Environment and Sustainable Development Agency publishes erosion maps, and the Food Security Commission issues bulletins, no interface connects these pieces—leaving municipalities to plan in the dark. 

The post-pandemic funding downturn worsened this fragmentation: several agroclimatic monitoring projects were suspended, leaving communities without a common reference. Meanwhile, the Paris Agreement unlocked new funding opportunities—Green Climate Fund, Adaptation Fund, GEF—requiring precise indicators for grant requests. Without a platform to consolidate, validate, and share data, Mali risked exclusion from these financial flows. This convergence of emergencies prompted the Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT and its partners to convene the Bamako session on February 26, 2025, to revitalize CCASA and reconnect science with local decision-making. 

The success of CCASA’s renewed momentum depends on governance capable of orchestrating a broad ecosystem. The Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, implementing the TARSPro project, plays a central role by facilitating dialogue and efficient data flow. Its responsibilities begin with coordination: organizing quarterly meetings, drafting joint agendas, and distributing accessible reports to all stakeholders. Next comes knowledge management: the Alliance team develops the observatory’s open-source architecture, standardizes formats (CSV, GeoTIFF, JSON APIs), and ensures long-term archiving on servers in Bamako and Montpellier. 

Strategically, the National Directorate of Agriculture steers policy direction and commits to covering 40% of the estimated $150,000 annual budget. AEDD ensures alignment with environmental policies and oversees risk analysis. The Institute of Rural Economy feeds the research hub with climate series, yield trials, and cropping scenarios; the CSA combines this data with grain stock levels to issue seasonal bulletins. SIRD and AMEDD transmit cooperative observations, while BNDA and Kafo Jiginew convert alerts into weather-indexed microloans. IPR/IFRA in Katibougou adapts its curricula to teach future agronomists how to use the observatory. The Climate Communicators Network and the National Federation of Rural Youth disseminate information in ten local languages via radio, social media, and forum theatre. Lastly, local governments incorporate these tools into their municipal development plans and co-fund extension equipment. 

Simultaneously, the Alliance compiles an annual Policy Brief summarizing climate trends, technological outcomes, and budgetary needs. It also co-authors proposals for the Mali Climate Fund, the Adaptation Fund, and the World Bank. This synergy ensures data becomes a public good—flowing from lab to farm.