At least 566 farmers from 21 cooperatives in Mali, over half being women, now have easy access to loans and working capital thanks to a Business Development Services (BDS) initiative by the Integrated Seed Sector Development project in the Sahel (ISSD-Sahel), implemented by SAA, in partnership with IFDC, ICRISAT, and KIT. The initiative sought to circumvent the tough collateral requirements and steep interest rates imposed by banks and microfinance institutions, often making financing inaccessible to smallholder producers.  

The SAA BDS model is a comprehensive package of training and coaching aimed at fostering entrepreneurial skills and enhancing the managerial capabilities of cooperatives. Implemented with the Regional Center for Study and Training for Development (CREFOD, the initiative trains cooperative leaders on various aspects of agricultural entrepreneurship, including business and credit management and business plan preparation.  

This initiative has seen the submission of 120 business plans to two microfinance institutions (MFIs)— Nyèsigiso and the Network of Micro-Institution for Revenue Growth (RMCR), allowing several cooperatives to secure loans, bolstered by mutual guarantees. SAA’s personalized coaching helped develop solid business plans and skills for effective negotiation with MFIs, allowing them to access credit without the need for physical collateral. 

Under the project, a total of FCFA57,297,903 (approximately USD 96,624) in loans has, so far, been granted to 21 cooperatives. 

By blending capacity-building with improved access to finance, the SAA BDS model, supported by the ISSD-Sahel project, fosters a more productive and inclusive agriculture sector.

Retrieved from SAA E-Newsletter, issued in October 2024, titled "Focus on Mali"