Abstract

In most sub-Saharan countries, interaction between rural and urban communities constitutes a major social and economic development potential. In dynamic peri-urban areas, synergies can play an important role in enhancing the income of the rural and urban poor. However, these areas are also the site of conflicts over access to increasingly scarce resources such as land that are often resolved to the detriment of those most in need, whether urban or rural. Access to production systems (urban agriculture and other), marketing channels, job-creation opportunities and investment flows are often controlled by a minority and do not benefit most of the population. Furthermore, the impact of urban-growth processes on the environment must be taken into account. The decentralization process now occurring in Mali could, if properly managed, constitute a prerequisite for the sustainable settlement of differences over natural resources, and provide a broad outline for socioeconomic development based on local priorities and needs. However, it is paramount that decision-makers have more detailed information on urban-rural interaction in order to establish policies to encourage positive relationships and limit negative ones. Accordingly, this project will develop a better understanding of peri-urban dynamics by identifying various types of urban-rural interaction and analyzing their repercussions on the survival strategies of those in most need.

Post-Project Summary

The research team - composed of mostly senior professionals whose expertise ranged from political science and agricultural engineering to philosophy, sociology and law - used participatory action research (PRA) tools to identify the main rural-urban interactions on the selected sites: Dialkorodji and Baguineda in periurban Bamako; and Barbe and Bangondaga in periurban Mopti. Stakeholders were successfully integrated in the project at all stages of the research, from conception, through implementation, to dissemination. The main workshops were as follows: the methodological workshop, which identified site selection criteria, methodology and training needs; workshops in Bamako and Mopti, which allowed researchers to validate the research question, methodology and site selection with stakeholders, and to identify a reference group for validation of the entire project; workshops in Bamako and Mopti that allowed the team to present and evaluate the preliminary results with local actors; a national workshop that included actors from all sites where the research was carried out; and a regional workshop, which gave the researchers an opportunity to share their findings with teams from Tanzania and Nigeria. This last attracted considerable attention from researchers, policymakers and professionals in Mali.

The research yielded important findings related to the impact of urban expansion of Bamako on neighboring periurban lands, particularly in terms of changes in agricultural production, water and land competition, employment opportunities, and social change. According to the internal reviewer, the report on the impact of urban expansion of Bamako contains an excellent analysis of migration toward and from Bamako and of its social impact on different socioeconomic groups. The report on periurban Mopti presents findings around the changing role of agriculture as the main source of income generation. This report contains an excellent analysis of economic constraints and opportunities, particularly with respect to perishable agricultural products. Together the reports provide great insight into the forces shaping periurban areas around both Bamako and Mopti. A report on the results of the participatory action research exercises and field diagnoses highlights the feedback of results to the participants that took place at each stage of project implementation. The documentation from the project, described as "clear and succinct" by the internal reviewer, is available on the IIED website.

The project team benefited greatly from the experience of working closely with other African teams as part of an international research effort. The researchers' ability to conduct PRA and to combine quantitative and quantitative methods were greatly enhanced. In all, seven individuals from GRAD improved their professional skills through project-associated training. Staff benefited from experience in English, information technology (as well as new computer equipment), and project and human resources management. The survey team was trained in PRA and quantitative data collection. Finally, collaboration with IIED greatly enhanced the research, since IIED was well placed to link national and regional research projects with their counterparts on other continents. The researchers involved the communities in all phases throughout the project and made sure to return the findings back to them. IIED and GRAD were able to continue the work with funding from the European Union (EU), Swiss cooperation (SCD) and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

Recipient Institution(s)