Madagascar

Madagascar is known for its unique and highly diverse wildlife and ecosystems. Yet many inhabitants of this paradise island live in abject poverty. The country is regularly hit by intense and destructive cyclones. Helvetas supports small producers in increasing their crop yield and gaining better access to foreign markets. We also focus on securing a steady supply of clean drinking water and protecting natural and water resources.

Capital

Antananarivo
Area

587,295 km²
Poverty rate*

75% of the population live under the poverty line of $1.90 per day
UN DEVELOPMENT INDEX*

Rank: 173 out of 191
Population

30,300,000
People supported per year

615,700
Thematic focus

WASH & Water Governance
Market Systems Development
Education and Vocational Skills
Climate & Disaster Resilience

* Source: UN Data

Helvetas began its involvement here back in 1982, initially concentrating efforts on forestry and protecting natural resources. Today our focus is on agriculture. Thanks to its isolation from Africa, Madagascar possesses a one-of-a-kind diversity of flora and fauna. In spite of the island’s natural fertility, the people live in great poverty. Most of them are subsistence farmers. Helvetas helps smallholders increase crop yields by showing them more effective farming methods. The object is to enable them to feed their families and sell the surplus to earn some money.

Fair terms of trade for smallholders

We help small farmers form cooperatives and sell their produce directly to exporters or big companies – so as to cut out the often exploitative middleman. The most successful exports include vanilla, of which Madagascar is by far the world’s biggest producer, and cacao for making chocolate; but also honey, which is carried in Helvetas’ Fairshop.

Water supply and sanitation

Contaminated drinking water and poor hygienic conditions give rise to diarrheic diseases and, as a result, high infant mortality in Madagascar. So the water supply and sanitation are another focus of our efforts here. Back in the 1990s, public services in Madagascar, including the water supply, were decentralized, i.e. delegated to communities. Helvetas helps out the local authorities, many of which are still inexperienced and ineffectual, and includes them in planning and implementation.

From the hand pump to the water kiosk

Specifically, the available water sources are inventoried and the water requirements of individual families are determined. Then solutions are developed to meet those requirements – everything from hand pumps to so-called water kiosks, an equitable system of payment using tokens and run by a local company. Our holistic approach includes measures to prevent sources from drying up, e.g. by building small dams or reforestation.