The Project supports the National Programme for Small-scale Irrigation (PNIP). It aims to contribute to the exploitation of the economic potential of small-scale irrigation for sustainable and profitable agriculture and enhanced food security and thus to stability in northern Mali. The project focuses on rural investment measures. The project is designed as an open programme, Investment are identified by popular demand and selected based on well-defined technical, social, financial and institutional criteria. Investment measures include in particular hydro-agricultural schemes (HAS) as well as the construction of complementary infrastructures for agriculture, fish farming and livestock.

The following activities are implemented through the project:

• Construction of hydro-agricultural schemes (HAS), for example, village level irrigated perimeters, ponds, including rainwater ponds and impluvium, and small market gardening perimeters;
• Consolidation and / or rehabilitation of HAS;
• Fish processing structures;
• Warehouses;
• Specific infrastructure for the livestock sector such as vaccination parks; livestock markets; slaughter areas;

In addition, the project provides technical support to the population for the valorisation of the infrastructures. This includes:

• Provision of agricultural equipment and inputs (motor pumps, seeds, equipment to support fish and agricultural production, etc.);
• Mobilisation of and support to the population, including farmer’s organisations, livestock herders during all project phases to support the management, operation, maintenance and valorisation of infrastructures.