A children receives treatment for malnutrition at an Action Against Hunger health centre in Madagascar.

Madagascar

75% of the population in this island nation lives on less than £1.50 a day.

Madagascar is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Though the country’s economy benefits from ecotourism, ecological research and a growing agricultural sector, the unequal distribution of wealth has left the vast majority of Malagasies living in poverty.

The country is also extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change, in particular floods and cyclones. In 2019, a lack of rainfall and a powerful El Niño phenomenon (the unusual warming of surface water) led to the loss of 90% of the country’s harvest – leaving more than 60% of the population struggling to access food.

Country facts

  • 26.3m

    Madagascar has a population of more than 26 million people.

  • 162

    Madagascar ranks 162nd out of 189 countries in the Human Development Index.

  • 48.9%

    Almost 50% of Malagasy children under five suffer from malnutrition.

Action Against Hunger’s work in Madagascar

Our programmes focus on fighting undernutrition through strengthening the local healthcare system. This has included provided mental health support and nutritional supplements to vulnerable children under five and pregnant women in urban areas.

We have also helped people on the island to respond to worsening climate shocks through disaster risk reduction and resilience programmes. As part of an integrated approach, our health and nutrition programmes and water, sanitation and hygiene projects have also supported these efforts.

Our response to coronavirus

Throughout the pandemic, our offices have remained open and we have adapted our programmes to help reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Our work to respond to coronavirus in Madagascar has included:

  • helping to set up quarantine sites
  • training frontline staff to detect and refer suspected cases
  • installing handwashing stations in public spaces and health centres
  • raising awareness in communities through street shouters, sound cars and posters
  • working with Malagasy authorities to help families make up for lost income with cash transfers
  • carrying out advocacy activities to call for more transparency in the management of funds intended for Covid-19

Our reach

  • 85,195

    We reached more than 85,000 people in Madagascar through our programmes in 2019.

  • 102

    We have 102 staff based in Antananarivo, Tulear and Amboasary.

  • 2011

    We started working in Madagascar in 2011.

Save lives todayAn Action Against Hunger staff member treats a child for malnutrition in Madagascar.

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