Mohamed Coulibaly is an advisor on law and agriculture for the Economic Law and Policy Program. His expertise is in responsible investment in agriculture and land laws and policies. He has worked on several topics related to sustainable development and agriculture and has conducted research on the legal, social and environmental aspects of development projects, land policies, seed laws and other agricultural issues in Mali and Africa.
Based in Bamako, Mali, Mohamed provides training and advisory services to developing country governments, primarily in Africa. This legal and policy advice focuses on issues related to foreign investment in agriculture, such as the negotiation, drafting and implementation of agriculture investment contracts and national/regional laws and policies aiming at maximizing the benefits and minimizing the risks from foreign investment in the agriculture sector.
His work also entails research on emerging trends and issues at the intersection of investment, agriculture and sustainable development. An area of focus is reflecting on legal instruments that can support the transformation of African agriculture through increased private investments. He recently published with other colleagues a policy brief on the rise of agricultural growth poles in Africa, also known as agropoles, which are key tools for this transformation.
Mohamed is also an assistant professor of law at the University of Bamako, where he teaches and conducts research activities on land law, environmental law, administrative law and international legal studies.
All Publications
- Burkina Faso Adopts a New Agricultural Investment Code: How does it contribute to sustainable development?
Blog - October 22, 2018
The strengths and growth potential of Burkina Faso's new Agricultural Investment Code. - The Rise of Agricultural Growth Poles in Africa: Investment in Agriculture Policy Brief #6
Policy Brief - September 27, 2017
Africa has seen the emergence of 36 agricultural growth poles and 9 corridors over the past 15 years. They cover at least 3.5 million hectares of land in 23 countries. Ensuring that the new wave of agropoles and growth corridors is effective requires robust policies, laws and practices to ensure that a possible new trend of investment helps Africa achieve the sustainable development goals the continent has set. - Une nouvelle loi pour sécuriser les terres au profit des paysans maliens
Blog - June 28, 2017
Le 11 avril 2017, le Président malien a promulgué la loi foncière agricole (LFA) adoptée par l'Assemblée nationale 10 jours plus tôt. C'est la première fois dans l'histoire législative du Mali qu'une loi est spécifiquement adoptée pour traiter des terres agricoles. - Historic New Law Secures Land for Malian Farmers
Blog - June 15, 2017
Farmers in Mali have gained critical new rights to their traditional land—and rural communities have gained much-needed economic stability—as a result of a historic new law.