USAID has been working for 33 years in Madagascar to help the Malagasy people accomplish their development goals in the face of ongoing challenges. The United States provides development assistance in the areas of health, food security, disaster assistance, and the environment through non-governmental organizations, community associations, and other private groups and in coordination with the government of Madagascar. In 2016, the United States provided $91 million, making it one of the largest bilateral donors to Madagascar. Critical assistance in the areas of public health and food security touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of Malagasy people throughout the country.
Our Approach
Impacts in Madagascar are achieved through an integrated approach that focuses on accountability and results. Governance challenges are addressed under each sector and our programs are constructed to be cross-cutting and mutually supportive.
Our Work
GLOBAL HEALTH
We aim to improve the health of the Malagasy people by improving health care access and quality and implementing the Government of Madagascar's goal of universal health care. Our activities emphasize reducing Madagascar's maternal and child mortality, improving access to potable water and sanitation, protecting communities from malaria, improving access to family planning, and reinforce the government’s community health policy by promoting linkages between community health volunteers and health facilities. Through our projects, we work to strengthen Madagascar’s health systems at all levels, ensure availability and accessibility of life-saving medications and quality health services to underserved populations.
AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SECURITY
We help food-insecure, vulnerable smallholder farmers improve production and expand productivity with environmentally friendly techniques and innovative agribusiness activities. We also work with communities to rehabilitate farm-to-market roads, which improves economic opportunities, as well as access to health and other services.
ENVIRONMENT
To support sustainable development, we are unrolling a new program that will improve community-based management of biodiversity and natural resources and support the protection of natural capital. Improved conservation efforts for Madagascar’s unique biodiversity will promote new jobs and opportunities for local communities, provide alternatives to unsustainable natural resource management practices, and identify concrete actions to secure effective local management and ownership of natural resources.
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
As the leading donor of food assistance and emergency relief to families affected by a severe drought in the south, the U.S. Government has provided over $36 million in food and supplies since 2014. Through extensive collaboration with the government, our partners and the international donor community, we ensure that relief efforts are coordinated and efficiently target those most in need.
PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT
Strong private sector partnerships spur increased investment in development assistance. Despite a lack of funding, the Mission has leveraged assistance that achieved impressive results and provides a model for future engagements. One example is a Development Credit Authority that was established to support Lafaza, a small American agribusiness that works directly with smallholder farmers to cultivate, prepare, and export Malagasy food products. A small amount of private funds were employed to generate a $1M business-expansion loan, which has allowed Lafaza to expand its operations to new regions, creating new employment opportunities for farmers in an environmentally sensitive part of the country.
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