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Rural poverty approaches, policies & strategies in Madagascar

The Government of Madagascar published its Poverty Reduction Strategy Document in 2003 as the fruit of a participatory process involving many actors from Malagasy society – the administration, elected officials, political parties, the business sector, civil society, NGOs, and professional and religious groups. The poverty reduction strategy was updated in 2005, with the aim of incorporating the objectives of the document entitled "Vision Madagascar naturellement", which proposed transforming the subsistence economy into a market economy by developing industries and services linked to the agricultural sector, and also by boosting exports and developing commodity chains.

In 2007, the Poverty Reduction Strategy Document was replaced by the Madagascar Action Plan for the period 2007-2012, which presents the Government's new strategy for stimulating economic growth, reducing poverty and achieving the Millennium Development Goals. This strategy was adopted by donors and is now being implemented.

Between now and 2012, the Government has undertaken to establish responsible governance, strengthen the transport and communication infrastructure network, transform education, develop rural zones, invest in health, family planning and combating AIDS, stimulate economic growth, establish environmental protection plans and boost national solidarity. Each of these commitments is subdivided into challenges that must be met by 2012.

The Government also updated its National Action Plan for Rural Development in 2005 in order to speed up the growth of the rural economy. The Government's priorities include integrating rural production – especially that of disadvantaged regions – into the market economy, developing poles of growth based on comparative regional advantages and promoting commodity chains with an eye to export possibilities.

Source: IFAD