Madagascar

Alleviating Poverty Through Improved Livelihood and Health

On May 1 2006 ADRA-UK with its local implementing partner ADRA Madagascar, has started a new project that will bring changes to some of the poorest communities on the island. Entitled ‘Alleviating Poverty Through Improved Livelihood and Health in Fandriana’ the new project is a jointly financed by the European Commission and ADRA-UK.

The project is aimed at contributing to the alleviation of poverty among the poorest households in five communes in the Fandriana region, Madagascar, through improved opportunities for income-generating activities, improved agricultural practices, and improved health practices. It will work with 10 craftswomen and 65 farmers’ associations to improve their productive, technical and marketing capacities and to ensure better availability of community-based health services. Three fields of activities aimed at improving the standard of living will be carried out: (i) promotion of improved rice farming and kitchen garden (ii) promotion of income-generating activities in agriculture or crafts (iii) establishment or reinforcement of community-based health services. In order to restore the communities’ ability for self-development and build their resilience, the project will put a strong emphasis on a fourth cross-cutting activity: (iv) capacity building for the associations.

The duration of the project is 36 months, commencing 1 May 2006. The total cost of the project is 755,457 EUR, with 566,592 EUR provided by the European Commission and the remaining 188,865 EUR from ADRA-UK via private donations and Annual Appeal 2007, 2008 and 2009 support.

It is expected that this project will benefit 1,400 people directly, with an additional 4,125 benefiting indirectly from the investments made into the target five commune.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world, in 2005 ranked at 146th on the Human Development Index (out of 177), and GDP per capita estimated at under £500, life expectancy of 57 years, and infant mortality (defined as deaths between the ages of 0 and 1) of 75 in 1000 (CIA World Factbook). 28% of national income is derived from agriculture, and rice farming accounts for the majority of land usage, and household consumption.