SPOTLIGHT: How the Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation tool helped Mali develop a new plant health strategy

Mali has taken an important step toward strengthening its plant health system with the development of a new national phytosanitary strategy designed to improve pest prevention, surveillance and response over the next five years.

The strategy was developed through the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretariat’s Phytosanitary Capacity Evaluation (PCE) process, following a request from Mali’s Plant Protection Office (OPV), the country’s national plant protection organization (NPPO). Supported by the World Bank-financed West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (PRSA), the initiative aimed to identify gaps in Mali’s phytosanitary system and establish priority actions for its strengthening.

For Mali, the process came at an important moment. As countries work to strengthen agrifood systems and respond to growing pest pressures, national phytosanitary systems play an increasingly important role in protecting agricultural production, facilitating trade and supporting food security.

From assessment to strategy

The PCE is a country-led process developed to help countries assess the strengths and gaps of their phytosanitary systems and align national capacities with the International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs).

Working with an IPPC PCE facilitator, Mali undertook an assessment across ten areas central to plant health, including phytosanitary legislation, pest diagnostics, pest surveillance, pest risk analysis, import regulation and export certification. Stakeholders from across the national phytosanitary system participated in the process through a series of workshops held between July and December 2025.

The workshops moved progressively from identifying challenges to defining solutions. Participants first analysed weaknesses across the selected modules, before using strategic planning tools to shape priorities for reform and investment.

A roadmap for the next five years

The outcome is a draft national phytosanitary strategy covering 2026–2030, which was publicly shared during the Twentieth session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM-20) in March 2026.

Structured around four priorities, the strategy focuses on updating phytosanitary legislation to better align with international agreements, strengthening operational processes within the NPPO, improving resources and staff capacities, and reinforcing communication and coordination among stakeholders.

Validated in December 2025 in the presence of Mali’s Minister of Agriculture, Siméon Daniel Kéléma, the strategy also aligns with the country’s broader Vision Mali 2063 development agenda, including ambitions to strengthen food sovereignty, improve agri-food competitiveness and promote environmental resilience.

Looking ahead

Plant pests do not stop at borders, and stronger national systems are increasingly important for helping countries anticipate, detect and manage risks before they spread. In Mali, the new strategy offers a roadmap for strengthening phytosanitary capacities through targeted investments in legislation, operations, skills and coordination. With an estimated implementation budget of about USD 5.3 million (CFAF 3.2 billion), the next phase will focus on translating planning into action.

Mali’s experience highlights how the PCE process can help countries move from assessment to implementation, supporting national ownership while helping build stronger and more resilient plant health systems.

Other initiatives

Mali is further strengthening its phytosanitary system and building technical capacity through modern scientific approaches and digital tools for improved pest surveillance. Through the Africa Phytosanitary Programme (APP), coordinated by the IPPC Secretariat, Mali has integrated APP into its national programmes, enhancing surveillance of key pests such as the Fruit fly (Bactrocera spp.). With annual production of around 800 000 tonnes of mangoes, generating over USD 30 million in exports, effective pest management and traceability are vital. The APP geospatial tools enable better monitoring and provide reliable real-time data for smarter pest management decision-making and sustained market access.

Mali’s approach is exemplary in its investment in digital pest surveillance, commitment to completing a comprehensive set of PCE modules, ensuring transparency in the results achieved, and demonstrating the value and effectiveness of the process as a means of attracting additional resources to implement nationally owned phytosanitary priorities.

Related information:

SPOTLIGHT: Building a resilient frontline against plant pests in Mali