Animal Productivity and Export Project
Project Description
The Mali Animal Productivity and Export (APEX) Project No. 688-0244-C-00-2085 was a seven year (July 1992-June1999) development effort to improve incomes and value added in Mali’s livestock sector. The APEX Project focused on achieving sustainable improvements in marketing and commercialization of the sector, as well as in producing livestock and animal products to meet these market needs. It concentrated on four important livestock geographic areas -- Kayes, Koulikoro, Ségou and the District of Bamako. It also implemented selected programs which were national in scope. Within or across the geographic areas and objectives, as appropriate, APEX targeted five commodity systems with high potential for improvement: cattle, sheep, poultry, milk, hides, and skins.
APEX utilized an approach that was both problem-solving and opportunity seeking to identify areas where interventions and activities would lead to significant improvements. Active participation of partners and clients was a core element of the strategy. So was encouraging public and private sector participants to work together to develop roles that would better support private sector development, while maintaining public health and safety. Based on experience and thorough analysis, APEX concentrated its efforts on four areas 1) improved organization and function of the marketplace; 2) increased access to high quality production inputs and services; 3) improved policy and institutional environment; and 4) increased sector participant access to information and improved ability to use it.
Results which illustrate APEX accomplishments are as follows:
- Five key livestock markets have been upgraded and are successfully operating under private management.
- Export policy reforms have decreased transaction costs associated with exporting livestock.
- These two results are increasing market efficiency and enhancing Mali’s ability to compete in regional export markets.
- The Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL) is making more and better vaccines available to private and public animal health professionals and is providing training to ensure their effective use.
- Private animal feed enterprises are making increased supplies of feeds and supplements available to producers, at costs they can afford.
- Over 3,500 persons are using the new skills, experience and understandings gained from their participation in APEX programs to solve problems and capitalize on opportunities important to their enterprises and institutions.
- APEX private sector clients report improved performance in areas ranging from hides and skins processing to poultry and egg production to milk and meat production and processing to enterprise management and marketing.
- Public sector partners are using new approaches as well as new technologies and analytical skills to facilitate and support sector development.
- Communication and cooperation among sector participants has greatly increased.
The APEX processes and approaches for program and administrative management were innovative within the context of livestock development in Mali, and indeed, in Africa as a whole. Developing and adapting these to the changing Project environment were important accomplishments for APEX and its partners.
