Stakeholder Mapping, Social Network and Multi-Stakeholder Strategies Analysis in Mali’s Small Ruminant Value Chain, Plus a Dive into Multi-Stakeholder Innovation Platforms as a Form & Driver of Inclusive SAPLING Innovation Packages

Within the framework of the CGIAR 2030 Research and Innovation Strategy, CGIAR is
actively engaged in a series of initiatives aimed at realizing a world with sustainable and
resilient food, land, and water systems. These initiatives have the overarching goal of
fostering more diverse, healthy, safe, sufficient, and affordable diets while ensuring
improved livelihoods and greater social equality, all while operating within global and
regional environmental boundaries. One of these significant initiatives is the CGIAR
SAPLING (Sustainable Animal Productivity for Livelihoods, Nutrition, and Gender Inclusion)
Initiative. Led by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) the International
Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the Alliance of Bioversity
International & CIAT, SAPLING focuses on empowering small ruminant, dairy, and poultry
producers, with an emphasis on women and young individuals—, by involving them in
inclusive value chains and helping them achieve sustainable productivity gains of up to 30-
50%, ultimately enhancing their livelihoods.
In Mali, SAPLING is committed to transforming the small ruminant value chain. This
transformation is to be achieved through the development and widespread adoption of
inclusive innovation packages that encompass aspects such as health, nutrition,
reproduction, capacity building, and market access. The initiative offers a wide range of
innovation packages, incorporating both technological and institutional innovations. To
effectively implement and sustain these innovations, it is essential to identify key
stakeholders who can contribute at various levels and scales to achieve the initiative's
outcomes in Mali.
To address this need, three workshops were conducted in Mali, specifically in Bamako,
Sikasso, and Ségou, on July 7, 10, and 13, 2023, respectively. These workshops were dedicated
to activities such as stakeholder mapping, social network analysis, and multi-stakeholder
strategy analysis within Mali's small ruminant value chain. Additionally, they delved into the
concept of Multi-Stakeholder Innovation Platform (MSIP) as a means to drive inclusive
SAPLING innovation packages in Mali.
MSIPs have been established in four communes of Sikasso by previous program namely
the Feed the Future Mali Livestock Scaling Technology Program to foster the
transformation of livestock value chains through the development of partnerships among
key stakeholders. MSIPs are seen as a mechanism to harness collective action to address
the constraints and opportunities pertaining to ruminant livestock value chains
development. In this specific context, they have been established to empower livestock
value chain stakeholders to scale up innovative solutions to sectoral challenges. Therefore,
MSIPs are continued under SAPLING, with more focus on small ruminants’ value chains to
transforming food security and nutrition with more focus on women and youth in the
project areas.