This paper presents the results of the first phase of a project aimed at analyzing the links between agricultural growth in Mali and child nutritional status. The objective of this project is to strengthen these links through applied research and extension. The first phase of the project was designed to generate hypotheses concerning the relationship and review existing data to test these hypotheses, generate new hypotheses and draw policy implications. The second phase of this project will carry out in-depth research to address the critical questions left unanswered in phase I and initiate actions designed to improve these links.