Ongoing project

Women, Pillars of the Family (Dou Touloma)

Mali

Women's and girls' rightsWomen’s Economic Empowerment

Date

March 2021 to February 2026

Financial Contribution

$17,368,644 CAD

Global Affairs Canada

Contribution through donations

$203,000 CAD

Consortium partner

L'Alliance agricole internationale (AAI)

a consortium formed by CECI, SOCODEVI and UPA - Développement international

Impact for

105,655 people

affected by the project

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The Dou Touloma project aims to strengthen the socio-economic empowerment and well-being of women farmers in the Koulikoro, Sikasso and Ségou regions of Mali. Dou Touloma helps women and young women to become autonomous. We want to see these women become free of all forms of violence (physical, psychological, social and cultural), possess the knowledge and know-how necessary for their activities, and have sufficient resources to successfully run their businesses. In this way, they will be able to position themselves with dignity as agents of change, working towards their own development.

To carry out all aspects of this project, the consortium is counting on the support of the Directions régionales de l'agriculture (DRA), the Directions régionales de la Promotion de la Femme, de l'Enfant et de la Famille, the Directions régionales du Développement social (tutelle des coopératives), the Chambres régionales d'agriculture (CRA) and the Association professionnelle des femmes rurales (ASPROFER).

Objectives

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Empowering women farmers

The project addresses women's lack of capacity, resources and control over agricultural enterprises, as well as the attitudes, behaviors, practices and socio-cultural norms that restrict their power to act freely. Dou Touloma strengthens women's ability to access, use, manage and control the resources of their agricultural enterprises in a context of climate change.

Promoting inclusive governance of agricultural cooperatives and their unions

Women account for 51% of members of the targeted unions, but only 25% of leaders. The Dou Touloma project enhances the capacity of 80 women's grassroots cooperatives and their unions (CFBU) to strengthen women's participation and leadership in decision-making bodies. It also improves their offer of accessible products and services adapted to the specific needs of women farmers.

Supporting the exercise of women farmers' social and economic rights

Dou Touloma enhances the ability of the Association professionnelle des femmes rurales (ASPROFER) and the Fédération nationale des femmes rurales (FENAFER) to mobilize women farmers in defense of their social and economic rights. This federation constitutes a strong network of solidarity and has a powerful potential to mobilize for social and political change.

Equality between men and women

Joining women in women's grassroots cooperatives and their unions

The Dou Touloma project follows on from the Feere-Diyara project implemented by the Alliance agricole internationale (AAI). Having begun in a rather difficult context, marked by the COVID-19 pandemic and a socio-political crisis in Mali, the project is basing its strategy on the experience acquired. Dou Touloma works to build the capacity of grassroots agricultural cooperatives.

Working for equity and balance in relations between men and women must be approached with skill, as previous experience has shown. Through the cooperatives, we reach out directly to women in rural communities and give them a space to make their voices heard. The project is also forging links and strategic alliances with partners working for women's well-being, to achieve even greater impact and ensure the sustainability of results.