The second project of Vocational Training, Integration and Support to the Entrepreneurship of Young Rurals – FIER II- held the third session of its National Steering Committee on Monday 13 January 2026 at the headquarters of the National Council of the Patronate of Mali.
Under the chairmanship of the Minister of Entrepreneurship, Employment and Vocational Training, the session was chaired by the Secretary General of the Department. The agenda focused on the review of the status of implementation of the recommendations of the second session of the Steering Committee, the validation of the technical and financial status 2025 of the project and the Work Programme and Annual Budget (PTBA) 2026 of the project.
In his opening speech, Drissa Guindo recalled that the FIER II project is a strategic tool of the Government of Mali in the implementation of national vocational training, employment and agricultural development policies.
He stressed that the implementation of the PTBA 2025 has enabled the implementation of some programmed activities such as institutional support, training of technical services executives; the development and approval of business plans for the financing of 1800 projects economic benefits for rural youth; technical and entrepreneurial training 1821 young beneficiaries, of which 742 are women ; the holding of workshops to identify production areas in 8 project regions, formalisation of partnerships with public technical services and microfinance institutions, etc.
Despite these achievements, other activities could not be carried out for various reasons. These relate to the acquisition of material resources for the project; Acquisition of IT equipment for partner services; carrying out the baseline study; financing and post-financing support of 1,800 youth projects, 40% of which are for women. These shortcomings have negatively affected the financial and physical performance levels of PTBA 2025, which are 33% and 56% respectively.
The Secretary-General of the MENEFP drew the directors' attention above all to the need to mobilise the remaining amount of financing of FIER II, which amounts to 23.563 billion CFA francs and remains, while the project begins its third year of operation.
The PTBA 2026 submitted to the CNP is estimated to be CFA francs 12,293 billion and is intended to: the deployment of specialised operators responsible for the animation, targeting and guidance of young people and the strengthening of training, support and monitoring structures for young people; the establishment of the sustainable financial mechanism under the project through the operationalization of the Sustainable Financial Guarantee Fund, the Counterpart Subsidy Fund and the SFD Refinancing Fund; implementation of capacity-building activities of strategic partners; technical, management and entrepreneurship training for the 3800 young people, including 1520 women and 76 PSH; the organization of literacy sessions for the benefit of 4000 young people and 150 guardians ; the financing of 3800 projects of which 3154 AGR and 646 MER ; the conduct of detailed preliminary project technical studies (ODA), environmental studies and the development of OADs at the site level identified in the production basins.
The third session of the FIER II National Steering Committee, following communications deemed relevant, judicious proposals and discussions, made two major recommendations aimed at:
- address the delay in implementing the project. To this end, the Ministry of National Entrepreneurship of Employment and Vocational Training, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture must hold inter-ministerial meetings to ensure prompt responses to ANO requests to IFAD;
- In 2026, the capacity building of the members of the steering committee on the planning and follow-up themes Evaluation will be carried out.
The third session of the CNP brought together almost all of its members, namely: the Ministry in charge of Economy and Finance, the Ministry in charge of International Cooperation, the Ministry in charge of Agriculture, the Ministry in charge of Livestock and Fisheries, the Ministry in charge of National Education, the Ministry in charge of Women and Children, the Ministry in charge of Youth, the Ministry in charge of Environment, the National Director of Employment, the National Director of Vocational Training, the Kayes Regional Council, the Regional Council of Kulikoro, the Regional Council of Sikasso, the Regional Council of Ségou, the Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Agriculture of Mali (APCAM), the Permanent Assembly of Chambers of Trade of Mali (APCMM), the National Coordination of Peasant Organisations (CNOP), the National Federation of Rural Women (FENAFER), the National Federation of Rural Youth (FENAJER), the Mali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIM), the National Council of Labour of Mali (CNOPE), the National Council of the Patronate of Mali (CNOPE), the National Council of the National Youth (CNOPE), the National Council of the National Youth (CNOPE), the Council of Mali (
