World Vision and World Food Program reinforce communities' resilience capacity

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

In December, 2015, a Resilience project based in Kolokani and run by World Vision Mali thank to its cooperating partner, World Food Program, through the funding of European Union officially opened a micro-dam in the village of Bana. World Vision began its resilience program in March 2015 aimed at rebuilding the livelihoods of populations living in the semi-arid areas in the rural communities of Kolokani, of which Bana is one.

With this program World Vision and its partner, World Food Program, implemented implementined a Food-for-Assets project intended to rebuild the communities' assets. This  was a means of protecting the communities and children, who are the most vulnerable. 

As a result of World Vision Mali's resilience project, the rural farmers’ community of Bana have learned to construct micro-dams which help them collect and preserve rainwater for livestock consumption and crop irrigation. Micro-dams are actually a vital instrument for farmers in rural communities affected by climate change. 

"Thanks to this market garden, women contribute in fighting against children malnutrition with our produce and profits"

In addition to a micro-dam, the resilience project which is the initiative of the communities in the commune of Massantola, commenced market gardening to reinforce women's resilience capacity and piscicultural pond to create fish production. “World Vision fenced our market garden for us. We cultivate and produce tomato, carrot, onion, sweet pepper, cabbage and lettuce. Thanks to this market garden, women contribute in fighting against children malnutrition with our produce and profits,” said Aminata, a 29 year old mother of 3 children. 

300 locals, 150 men and 150 women, constructed the dam, working four days a week for one month. In exchange for their work, these persons received enough food ingredients and provisions to meet their family's need for one month. “While constructing this micro-dam, World Vision gave us food and money in addition to providing us materials for the construction,” said Mr. Diarra, head of Bana village.

 

In training the communities, providing iron, cement, woods, logistic and qualify workers, World Vision aimed to the sustainable development of the communities, building their resilience to the effects of climate change. “Thank to World Vision, we now have water for 12 months of the year. We do market gardening, sell the products and also feed our families. We wash our clothes and our livestock also have water to drink. We've needed this micro-dam for decades and thanks to World Vision and World Food Programme, we finally have it,” Assitan said, a 43 year old mother of 7 children.

 

8,000 persons are able to benefit from the micro-dam which will last up 15 to 20 years.

Now, 8,000 persons are able to benefit from the micro-dam which will last up 15 to 20 years. Children can continue their education without interruption and parents can continue working all year round. They also benefit economically, having access to surrounding villages' weekly market to sell their produce through the land bridge formed by the dam.

World Vision's intervention, in collaboration with the World Food Program, demonstrates that it is possible to support rural communities with programs the build their capacities to provide for themselves instead of giving hand outs. Communities can now produce their own food instead of receiving food aid. When resilience programs are built with communities and embedded within them they provide sustainable solutions.