The U.S. Chargé Andrew Young alongside the First Lady of Mali and the Minister for the Promotion of Women, Children and Families inaugurated a cereals factory (Danaya Céréales) that USAID helped finance with a $152,530 contribution from its Integrated Initiatives for Economic Growth in Mali (IICEM) project. Danaya Cereals is a women-owned, women-run Malian agricultural enterprise which processes, among other goods, millet and fonio. The new factory will increase production three-fold and result in an additional 80 jobs created, most of which (80%) will be for women. The purpose of this event is to contribute to expanding Mali’s nascent agro-processing sector, commemorate International Women’s Day and showcase USAID’s work towards reducing barriers to female empowerment and gender-equality.
