January 18-19, 2010---A mission to Bamako, Mali by a core group of Study Group members took place on 18 and 19 January 2010. The main objective was to prepare for the China DAC Study Group’s planned event on “Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development” by establishing contact with important stakeholders in Mali, discussing logistical issues and agreeing on next steps and specific responsibilities. The visit was kindly organised by Hervé Bougault and the staff at the French Development Agency (AfD) office in Bamako.

Meetings were held with the Prime Minister’s Office (“La Primature”), the Chinese Ambassador and staff of the Chinese Embassy, staff of the French Embassy, representatives of bilateral and multilateral donors in Mali , representatives from African Embassies in Mali , the World Bank and AfD.

The following people participated in these meetings:
• Adama Coulibaly and Moussa Ben Issak Diallo – (Malian) Ministry of Agriculture
• Wu Zhong and Wang Dajun - IPRCC
• Li Xiaoyun and Wang Yan – Director and Co ordinator (respectively), China DAC Study Group
• Hervé Bougault, Jean François Cavana and Jean Raphaël Chaponniere   AfD
• Richard Carey and Michael Laird - OECD
Overall, the mission found considerable interest and support both for an event on agriculture, food security and rural development and for the work of the China DAC Study Group more generally. Very good contacts were established with the Malian authorities (both the Prime Minister’s office and the Ministry of Agriculture), the Chinese Embassy and the AfD office, which will play a key role in helping to organise the event and in facilitating buy in from others in Bamako.

Noteworthy comments made during the mission included:
i) For the Government of Mali, it is an honour to host a China DAC Study Group event on behalf of African countries.
ii) Mali is a good location for holding a China DAC Study Group event on “Agriculture, food security and rural development”:
- Mali has good relations with China and China is becoming more involved in donor co ordination fora in Mali.
- The Malian authorities view agriculture as a driver of growth and poverty reduction in their country. A Law on Agricultural Orientation (Loi d’Orientation Agricole – LAO) has been passed which sets out a strategy for promoting a sustainable, modern and competitive agriculture sector and ensuring food security for all Malians. Mali is looking to learn from other countries, including China, on how best to develop its agricultural potential.
iii) The Study Group’s event complements other activities taking place in Mali in early 2010. These meetings, which will provide inputs for the Study Group’s event, are the 10th Bamako Forum on hunger in Africa and the challenge of food security (16-20 February 2010) and the meeting of Mali’s High Council on Agriculture (in March 2010).
iv) The Study Group event should go beyond academic issues to provide guidance on how (trilateral) collaboration can be improved. An action plan or other action oriented outcome would be useful.
v) It would be beneficial to involve a range of people in the event, including farmers associations and private sector representatives, including people from the finance sector.

Regarding next steps and specific responsibilities, it was agreed that:
i) The dates for the event should be Tuesday 27 and Wednesday 28 April 2010, which will allow the Malian Prime Minister (or possibly President) to participate in the opening ceremony . The location may be the Hotel de l’Amitié in Bamako (to be confirmed)
ii) AfD in Bamako will form a local support group involving the Malian authorities, the Chinese Embassy and other donor agencies. The group will support preparation of the event including by preparing a welcome pack for participants (with practical information and information about Mali), arranging a reception/cocktail and planning a field visit immediately following the event.
iii) A press kit will be developed and a range of press agencies invited (international, regional, Malian and Chinese). The press would be expected to attend the opening ceremony and possibly a press conference at the end of the event.
iv) The event will take place in 3 languages: Chinese, English and French. The translation of papers and PowerPoint slides will be done in Beijing, where the Chinese version of documents will also be printed. The printing of the English and French versions will be done in Bamako. This need for translation and printing means that a strict deadline for the submission of materials will need to be set (e.g. in consultants’ contracts) and enforced.
v) The Study Group will liaise with possible participants who, once their participation is confirmed, will receive an official confirmation from the Malian Ministry of Agriculture. Chinese officials will need to receive this official confirmation at least 4 weeks in advance of their travel.
vi) Wang Yan, with support from IPRCC, will play the central role in developing a synopsis of tasks to be done with deadlines, contacting and following up with potential participants and monitoring the status and translation of papers.