The NCEA supporting an SEA for an irrigation plan in Mali

2 April 2015

The NCEA is supporting parties involved in an SEA for a plan to increase the irrigation area northeast of Ségou in Mali. In 2014, the NCEA advised the Ministry of Rural development (responsible for the irrigation plan) on the scope of the SEA. Currently, arrangements are being made between this Ministry and others, such as the Ministry of Environment (responsible for the SEA). The NCEA supports these parties in jointly assessing sustainable alternatives to extension of current irrigation practices. This is urgent, because higher water extraction upstream in the Niger river affects downstream water users in Mali, Nigeria and Niger.