Dou Touloma - Woman, Pillar of the Family

Dou Touloma – Woman, Pillar of the Family – Public Comments Invited 

[August 8, 2025] – Global Affairs Canada must determine whether the proposed Dou Touloma – Woman, Pillar of the Family, located in Mali is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. 

To help inform this determination, Global Affairs Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.  

Written comments must be submitted by [September 8th 2025] to: 

Environment Specialists? 

Global Affairs Canada? 

200 Promenade du Portage 
Gatineau (QC) J8X 4B7 

Email:?CommentsIAARegistry-CommentairesRegistreLEI@international.gc.ca 

 

The Proposed Project 

The "Dou Touloma – Woman, Pillar of the Family" project, implemented in the regions of Dioïla, Ségou, Koulikoro, Sikasso, and Banamba from 2021 to 2026, aims to strengthen the socioeconomic empowerment and well-being of women farmers. It will serve as a lever to align with the Malian government's efforts to protect agricultural land, particularly through Grassroots Women's Cooperatives and their Unions. In addition to promoting economic empowerment for women farmers, the project's activities will help increase the resilience of farming families in the targeted regions to climate hazards and environmental degradation. The initiative seeks to generate positive outcomes for environmental protection and climate change adaptation, notably through capacity building for women producers and Grassroots Women's Cooperatives and their Unions. 

This initiative includes several sub-projects that fall under Canada's Impact Assessment Act. 

 

Environmental Description?: 

The targeted regions in Mali feature a wide diversity of bioclimatic and agroecological zones, and are rich in natural resources. Mali has significant water potential, with a water network covering 1.8 million hectares, abundant wildlife and plant resources, and strong fisheries potential. Arable land accounts for 23.8% of Mali's territory and is a major source of income for the population. However, this potential is heavily affected by climate change and agronomic constraints. Environmental challenges affecting cereal and vegetable crops in Mali include unsustainable farming practices, both from an environmental standpoint and in terms of optimizing cultivable land use, low production levels, and limited use of organic fertilizers. Poor soil quality, pesticide use, and water waste due to irrigation practices that do not match crop water needs are major issues. 

Due Diligence and Regulatory Framework?: 

The environmental and social impacts of the projects require various alternatives or mitigation measures. Since December 2018, Mali has adopted a new decree to regulate environmental and social impact assessments for economic development projects (Decree No. 2018-0991/P-RM). Similar to Canada's Impact Assessment Act, this decree establishes an administrative procedure for evaluating and reviewing the environmental impacts of development projects, classifying them based on their potential environmental impact. Depending on the level of potential impact, projects are categorized into three groups. All physical infrastructure associated with the Dou Touloma initiative falls under Category C, meaning they have limited or insignificant environmental impacts and require a simplified environmental and social analysis known as a Notice of Environmental and Social Impact (NIES). Environmental and social authorization for the NIES is issued by the National Directorate of Sanitation, Pollution and Nuisance Control and its regional offices, while the environmental and social clearance for the environmental audit is issued by the Minister responsible for the environment. 

 

The preparation of NIES, along with Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs), helps address the negative impacts of the project on the environment and local populations. These plans aim to minimize adverse effects and enhance positive outcomes. ESMPs include key elements for environmental and social management, implementation and monitoring measures, institutional responsibilities, and budgeting. They also outline institutional and technical capacity-building measures, as well as training and awareness-raising actions. 

 

Environmental Risks and Project Classification: 

The Dou Touloma project was designed to address the specific challenges posed by climate change, which threatens the long-term viability of Mali's agricultural sector. The main anticipated risks relate to physical works for the development and rehabilitation of vegetable-growing areas, as well as the construction of small facilities for processing and storing agricultural products. 

 

List of Dou Touloma Project Infrastructure: 

 

1. Development and Rehabilitation of Vegetable-Growing Areas 

Works may include: 

- Geophysical and hydrogeological surveys   

- Bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis of borehole water prior to pump installation   

- Borehole drilling and equipment, including headworks and hydraulic accessories   

- Construction and rehabilitation of water basins, connection to water towers   

- Installation of water towers on pylons   

- Perimeter fencing with galvanized steel mesh   

- Installation of photovoltaic generators   

- Construction of latrines   

 

The initiative includes the development of the following new vegetable-growing areas:   

Region of Dioila:  

  1. Development of a 2.5 hectare vegetable-growing area in the village of Seylla 

  1. Development of a 2 hectare vegetable-growing area in the village of Bougoula 

Région of Ségou:  

  1. Development of a 2 hectare vegetable-growing area in the village of Singo 

  1. Development of a 2 hectare vegetable-growing area in the village of Sinimbougou  

Region of Koulikoro:  

  1. Development of a 2.5 hectare vegetable-growing area in the village of Nètaa de N'Ganouba Banamba  

Region of Sikasso:  

  1. Development of a 2 hectare vegetable-growing area in the village of Benkadi de N'Kourala 

 

The initiative includes the rehabilitation of the following vegetable-growing areas: 

Region of Dioïla: 

  1. Benkadi Clé of Badièbougou   

  1. Benkadi of Tiendobougou   

  1. Faïda of Dioïla   

  1. Gnongondèmè of Dioïla   

  1. Benkola of Dioïla   

  1. Benkadi of Dioïla   

  1. Belemaya of Dioïla   

Region of Banamba: 

  1. Benkadi of Bougouina   

  1. Benkadi Diamadiè of Touba   

  1.  Nièta of N'Tiélé   

  1.  Benkadi Begneni   

  1.  Dounkafa of Woro   

Region of Ségou: 

  1. Benkadi Zogofina   

  1. Benkadi of Douga   

  1. Benkadi of Siguila   

  1. Benkadi of Menfala   

  1. Benkadi of Ouassila   

  1. Sigidiya of Soignébougou   

  1. Benkadi Dougoutiguibougou   

  1. Nasséguéla, Commune of N'gassola   

Region of Sikasso: 

  1. Benkadi Ziasso   

  1. Benkadi Finkolo AC   

  1. Kotognatala Finkolo AC   

  1. Jigisèmè Tonokalakoro, Finkolo Ganadougou   

 

2. Construction of New Agro-Processing Centers, Storage Warehouses, and Shelters 

Works may include: Site clearing and layout, Earthworks, Foundation construction, Structural elevation, Roofing, Carpentry, Surface finishing, Installation of solar streetlights. 

 

Béléko/Dioïla Region 

  1. Peanut Processing Center, Bougoula 2 

  1. Shallot Processing Center, Jèkabaara of Missirila 

  1. Vegetable Processing Center (Okra, Shallot, Chili Pepper, and Tomato), Balimaya of Dioïla 

  1. Vegetable Processing Center (Okra, Shallot, Chili Pepper, and Tomato), Benkola of Dioïla 

  1. Neem/Baobab Seed Processing Center, Gnongondèmè of Dioïla 

  1. Sesame Processing Unit, Tiendobougou 

  1. Storage Warehouse at Benkadi CLE of Badièbougou, Wacoro 

  1. Preservation Unit – Benkadi site, Kaladougou 

Niono/Ségou Region 

  1. Construction of a 20-ton preservation hut, Tièssiri ND2 N'Débougou/Niono 

  1. Construction of a storage warehouse for Cowpea Marketing, Nièta Siguila 

  1. Construction of a storage warehouse for Cowpea Marketing, Benkadi Douga 

Sikasso Region: 

  1. Construction of a Peanut Processing Center, Djiguitougou Kaboïla 

  1. Construction of a Peanut Processing Center, Benkadi Finkolo AC 

  1. Construction of a Shed for Organic Fertilizer (Bocashi) Production and a Storage Warehouse: Jigisèmè Tonokalakoro, Finkolo Ganadougou 

  1. Construction of a Warehouse for Primary Peanut Marketing, Kotognatala Finkolo AC 

  1. Construction of a Warehouse for Cowpea Preservation and Marketing, Sinignèsigui Kaboïla 

  1. Construction of a Storage Warehouse for Shelled Peanut Marketing, AGRI F.MA. Massabougou 

Koulikoro Region: 

  1. Construction of a Peanut Processing Unit (Seed and Paste), Nièta N'Tiélé of Banamba 

 

3. Rehabilitation of 7 Shallot–Onion Preservation Huts (20 tons each)  

Niono/Ségou Region: 

  1. SUTURA of Rigandé 

  1. YEPINE of Hèrèmakono 

  1. Sabali ND2 

  1. Benkadi Kanabougou 

  1. CESIRI of Kanabougou 

  1. Dembagnouma of Siribala 

  1. Dèmèso of Nango Sahel 

 

4. Rehabilitation of a Processing Center: 

Koulikoro Region: 

  1. Rehabilitation of a Sesame Processing Unit, Diamadiè Touba Coura, Banamba 

Document reference number: 1

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