[Based on the Project Design Document of May 2010]

The project operates in two Malian districts, namely Koutiala and Tominian. The average rainfall in this area is between 700 and 900mm per year. The agricultural fields have been cultivated continuously for the last 30 years, so fallowing is rare. The area is dependent on cotton as its key cash crop and local farmers have been affected by the cotton crisis in recent years. As a consequence, they are ready to seize an opportunity which could generate a sustainable income.
 
Growing Jatropha curcas in hedges provides an opportunity for additional farm income by producing seeds that serve as biodiesel feedstock and other useful products, while requiring little maintenance. On a technical level, the pressing and the use of jatropha oil are relatively simple operations. Planting jatropha in hedges in the agrarian system of the old cotton belt will reduce the vulnerability of small farms to the cotton crisis and climate change.
 
Planting jatropha also promotes renewable energy by providing a high quality biodiesel substitute for fossil fuel diesel fuel that is renewable, affordable and locally produced, for use in rural electrification schemes and local grain mills.

The project has two broad components, of which only the first one currently aims at generating carbon credits: Phase one of the project involves the reforestation of degraded farmland using Jatropha curcas, while phase two involves fuel switching from fossil fuel diesel to biodiesel .
 
Phase one aims at promoting community-level reforestation, based on jatropha plantation in hedges as well as within fields as part of agro-forestry systems, both within degraded farmlands. It is foreseen to plant 1,000,000 jatropha trees (equivalent to 1,000 ha) in 44 villages. This biomass sequesters an approximate amount of 3,700 tCO2e/year. 
 
Different activities will be carried out within the scope of this phase: producers will be identified and a co-operative created; seed will be identified and nurseries installed; soil will be prepared; and monitoring will conducted after planting. 

Phase two involves fuel switching from fossil fuel diesel to biodiesel fuel.  It will include seed harvesting and the extraction and filtering of jatropha oil for use in engines that currently use fossil fuel diesel.

The overall vision is thus to first grow Jatropha plantations, then to produce Jatropha oil for use as the energy source for rural electrification schemes and local grain mills. The project will thereby produce and use biodiesel fuel locally as a means to boost incomes and livelihood options, while also reducing spending on energy originated outside the zone.

While the two planned phases of the project are complementary, they also serve as independent projects each of which is viable on its own. That is, each phase serves to generate additional revenues for participating farm households, notably revenues from selling jatropha seeds, generating carbon credits and producing supplementary products such as seedcakes. The current PDD only covers phase one.