Siemenpuu implements its cooperation programme in Mali together with Mali Folkecenter-Nyetaa (MFC Nyetaa).
The cooperation programme aims to strengthen the environmental awareness and the environmental advocacy work of grass root actors in the Sikasso region in Southern Mali. Under the programme the new environmental movement named Sigida Nyetaa (“progress in environmental protection”) is being established in the villages and communities of the Sikasso region. The programme also supports environmental micro projects of the Sigida Nyetaa groups. Every year in January a National Environmental Forum is organised in Bamako, the capital of Mali.
The project funding channelled through the programme is approximately 100 000 euros annually. Up until the beginning of 2010, 24 positive project funding decisions have been made within the programme.
The coordination and administration of the programme is done both in the headquarters of the MFC-Nyetaa in Bamako and their field office in Bougouni, Sikasso region. There is also a local steering committee, Comité de Pilotage, in the region, which consists of representatives of local government and organisations. It makes the recommendations about the micro projects supported in the programme. The administration of the micro projects needs a lot of support as the activists of the local groups are mostly illiterate.
The programme operates in the four districts of Sikasso region: in Bougouni, Sikasso, Kadiolo and Yanfolila.
In addition to the cooperation programme funds, Siemenpuu channels the so called CO2 funds received from the Finnish Ministry of Environment and some individuals to micro projects in Sikasso (some 3 000 euros in 2009). The donated funds are allocated to replace stoves that require large quantities of fuel wood with more energy efficient models in the Sikasso district.
Micro Projects
The first eight micro projects financed thought the cooperation programme have been completed by the end of 2009. The projects mainly concerned planting fruit and other useful trees. The implementing organisations were professional groups and women’s groups in the villages.
The three new micro projects that were approved in 2008 are being implemented by local Sigida Nyetaa groups. The projects are related to bee keeping and forest conservation in the four districts of the Sikasso region. They are still going on.
Six new peojects were approved in Septmeber 2009 and they are advocacy projects.
Micro projects funded in 2009 in Mali
| Organisation |
Project | Duration | Amount |
| Womens union in Finkolo-Ganadougou | Reducing destructive gold mining by promoting alternative livelihoods - cultivation of organc onions | 1 year | 5 270 € |
| Boulonba de Bougouni - intercommunal organ | Enhancing environmental dimension in the communal development plan PDSEC | 1 year | 5 350 € |
| CSFCG - forest watchers in Garalo | Promoting paricipatory forest monitoring | 1 year | 5 680 € |
| Sigida Nyetaa Comittee in Koussan | Promoting organic pesticides | 1 year | 7080 € |
| CAPF- cattle reares | Promoting organic fertilizers | 1 year | 6 833€ |
| CPCG - farmers | Protecting indigenous seed varieties | 1 year | 6 256 € |
| Organisation |
Project |
Duration |
Amount |
| Communal Sigida Nyetaa -committee in Finkolo-Ganaoudou | Promoting traditional bee keeping by protecting biodiversity in Finkolo-Ganadougou, Farakala and Zaniéna | 1 year |
4 116 € |
| Sigida Nyetaa Committee in Filamana |
Promoting bee keeping by protecting biodiversity in Filamana village in Koussan commune | 1 year |
1 766 € |
| The network of the Sigida Nyetaa Committees | Increasing the appreciation of the local tree species in the region of four districts (Sikasso, Kadiolo, Bougouni and Yanfolila) | 1,5 years |
16452 € |
| Organisation |
Project |
Duration, months |
Amount |
| CAPAF- planters |
Reforestation with local tree species | 4 |
1 500 € |
| ACFG - hunters |
Protecting the watershed by planting 2 ha of rattan |
4 |
1 100 € |
| CPB - planters |
Planting mango and mahogany trees | 6 |
1 500 € |
| Groupe Etoile - women´s group |
Reforestation with local tree species | 4 |
914 € |
| A.F.N.S - women´s group |
Collecting garbage and waste water in the town of Nièna | 10 | 2 500 € |
| A.D.N - women´s group |
Producing seedlings of local species | 4 | 1 200 € |
| APZ - planters |
Fight against the karité tree parasite | 5 | 2 600 € |
| Finkolo-Ganadougou Commune |
Creating of local environmental agreement, “local convention” in Finkolo-Ganadougou | 10 | 8 449 € |
The history of the cooperation
The Siemenpuu Foundation has supported projects implemented by the Mali Folkecenter since 2003. When the foundation started to discuss the longer and more in-depth cooperation programmes, the partner chosen in Africa was the MFC, an established contact. After the planning phase, the cooperation programme with MFC was started in 2006.
Also one of the founding organisations of Siemenpuu, Dodo, has cooperation links with MFC Nyetaa.