General Meeting of Collaborators of AGRA's Program for Africa’s Seed Systems (PASS)

"The March Towards a Green Revolution in Africa - Improving the Lives of Farmers through Stronger Seed Systems"

Center International des Conferences de Bamako (CICB), Bamako, Mali, October 5–8, 2009. Jointly Organized by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) & Institut d'Economie Rurale (IER) of Mali.

General Information Guide Designed for Participants of the General Meeting of Program for Africa's Seed Systems (PASS). 5-8 October, 2009, Centre International des Conferences de Bamako, Bamako, Mali

Coordination of the conference shall be handled by the organizers; the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Institut D’economie Rurale (IER)

The following links and information is considered useful to those who wish to know more about Mali.

1. About Mali

   • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali

   • http://www.enchantedlearning.com/africa/mali/

   • http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107759.html

   • http://www.geographia.com/mali/

   • http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Mali.aspx

   • https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ml.html

   • http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mali

   • http://goafrica.about.com/library/bl.mapfacts.mali.htm

   • http://worldfacts.us/Mali.htm

2. The Weather

   • http://weather.weatherbug.com/Mali/Bamako-weather.html?zcode=z6286

   • http://www.wunderground.com/global/MI.html

   • http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-factsheet/mali--weather-20081128-6ljc.html

3. Agriculture

   • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Mali

   • http://www.mapsofworld.com/mali/economy-and-business/agriculture.html

4. Airport (Senou International Airport)

   • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BKO

5. About IER

   • http://www.ier.ml/ier/

6. Guest Hotels in Mali

   • Azalai Hotel Salam, Azalai Grand Hotel, Azalai Hotel Nord-Sud  http://www.azalaihotels.com/

   • Hotel Radisson: http://www.radissonblu.com/hotel-bamako

   • Hotel Libya:

7. Basic English-French translations

   • http://www.french-at-a-touch.com/Words-Phrases/basic_phrases_links.htm

   • http://www.bonjour.com/index.php?lesson=2

8. Currency: The local Mali currency is CFA Franc BCEAO.XOF. One (1) Euro worth 655.957 CFA francs. One (1) US $ = approx. 500 F CFA. http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic

9. Local Time:  Local time in Mali is that of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Universal Time (UT)

10. Banks and Commerce: Banks are open from 8 am to 12 pm and from 1:15 pm to 3pm during the weekday. Some banks instead are open on Saturdays from 8 am to 12:30pm.

11. Shops are open from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Saturday. Some stores are open on Sunday morning. The commercial district is located in the city center.

12. Communication Facilities:  Mali has two mobile operators: Orange Sotelma-Malitel and Mali. SIM cards and recharge cards can be obtained at affordable prices at the Bamako-Sénou International Airport.

13. Broadband Internet is available in some hotels and cyber cafes.