Madagascar and AfDB join forces to secure water access and strengthen climate change resilience

Madagascar: African Development Bank and the Government join forces to secure water access and strengthen climate change resilience

The African Development Bank and Madagascar’s Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene have launched the preparation stage of a project to protect and develop water resources and strengthen the nation’s climate change resilience.

With funding of US$3.32 million from the African Development Fund’s Project Preparation Facility and administered by the African Development Bank Group, the project follows a request from the Malagasy authorities for help to tackle the socio-economic and environmental impact of climate change on communities and ecosystems. It mainly covers the regions of Amoron'i Mania, Vakinankaratra, Analamanga (Centre), Haute Matsiatra, Ihorombe (South-east) and Androy (South). It comes at a time of a severe food crisis (kêrê in Malagasy) brought about by alternating droughts and floods.

“The project has come at just the right time,” said Ravokatra Fidiniavo, Madagascar’s Minister for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. “The government is very hopeful with regard to this project and the Bank’s support for it, which will help to put an end to the ‘kêrê’ phenomenon and accelerate the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030.”

The investment project that should stem from this preparation stage aims to boost the resilience of ecosystems and communities facing the effects of climate change by mobilising, protecting and developing water resources. In concrete terms, the objective is to improve access to drinking water, reduce gender-based inequalities, and promote sustainable, inclusive and resilient socio-economic development in the project areas.

In attendance at the ceremony to launch the preparation stage on 22 September, the African Development Bank’s Country Manager in Madagascar, Adam Amoumoun, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to supporting the Government’s efforts to improve the living conditions of the population and strengthening their resilience to climate-related challenges.

“The Bank is delighted to uphold its commitment to the Government of Madagascar, whose vision is to create an environment in which people’s living conditions and resilience are improved,” said Mr Amoumoun.