- Hello, Sidi! Can you tell us about your background?
My name is Sidi Takiou and I am from Asongo, in the Gao region, on the border between Mali and Niger. I completed my primary education and then attended Yana Maïga High School in this region. I then went to the Skriabin Veterinary Academy in Moscow, Russia, to study animal husbandry. Having grown up in a family of agro-pastoralists, I have been interested in animals since childhood and have developed my career in this field.
In 1992, I returned to Mali and began my professional life in national and international non-governmental organisations in the field of livestock farming as an expert in pastoralism.
- What motivated you to join VSF-Suisse?
VSF-Suisse’s approach and its focus on pastoralism suited me well. I was particularly motivated by the issue of involving the communities directly. My goal was to think about concrete ways to improve their participation so that they could derive greater benefit from livestock farming, structure this activity around shared spaces, and contribute to the resolution of local conflicts.
I began my work at VSF-Suisse in 2017 with the Livestock Support Programme in Mali (PASEM phase I), implemented in the northern regions (Mopti, Gao, Timbuktu) in consortium with HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation.
- Now that you are retiring, what memories do you keep from your time at VSF-Suisse?
I have very fond memories of it. There is a strong team spirit: we care about the goals we set together, we give each other advice, we help each other, and we feel like we are actively involved.
- What did your work at VSF-Suisse mainly involve?
I was a pastoralism advisor as part of the PASEM project (phase 1). I provided advisory support in the development of pastoral plans and the enhancement of pastoral areas, including issues of equity, strengthening stakeholders in sustainable natural resource management, conflict prevention, adaptation to climate change, and strengthening the structure and functioning of pastoral organisations in the regions of Mopti, Gao and Timbuktu. I was then the main facilitator in the ‘Hydroponic Forage’ action research project in the Mopti region to organise spaces in a secure manner and promote the planting of ‘elephant grass’ forage. It was a great success, and the communities organised themselves well. People were responsible for the plots. We established a kind of agreement and were able to grow this grass. Many other villages were inspired by our experience!
I was also the Nexus advisor for the Ensemble-espérons project in the tri-border area between Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. We operated in a highly fragile region affected by armed groups. There were two components: humanitarian and development. The humanitarian activities and conflict-sensitive management methods we put in place enabled us to build a certain level of trust with the local population. We were then able to move on to developing infrastructure. We carried out an assessment to understand each person involved in these areas. We worked on mapping the actors and understanding the conflicts in order to adapt to the conflictual and fragile context and continue the project’s activities.
- What were the biggest challenges in your daily work?
At first, it was difficult to build trust between communities and integrate pastoralist populations into centralised agricultural systems in fragile areas. For example, indigenous populations did not understand why we were interested in displaced persons. For me, it is essential to be in contact with the population, to be on the ground, to discuss with the community in order to find solutions. This approach made a big impression on me at VSF-Suisse!
- Can you share an outstanding achievement of which you are particularly proud while working with VSF-Suisse?
In the tri-border area, communities continue to benefit from the initiatives implemented! Indigenous and displaced populations are being integrated. They are developing income-generating activities, such as milk production and marketing, and developing strategies to adapt to living conditions.
- What are your plans for retirement?
Officially, I am retired, but in reality, I continue to willingly share my experience. I don’t want to die with what I have learned. So, it is not really restful!
- Finally, what is your favourite animal?
Ruminants: all animals that are raised, cows, goats, but especially sheep! I raise four sheep at home.
Thank you for your commitment over the past eight years and all the best!