Madagascar
A young girl in the Catholic Relief Services-supported vocational skills training programming in Antsirabe, Madagascar. Photo by Mikaele Sansone/CRS
Madagascar, an island nation filled with natural wonders, faces a number of challenges. The majority of its population lives in rural areas as subsistence farmers. Relying on rudimentary agricultural techniques, most fail to grow enough food to feed their families. Limited basic sanitation systems and hygiene practices aggravate already poor health conditions. Frequent natural disasters also affect this island country, with political instability adding to residents' struggles.
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Stats
| Population: | 21,926,221 (July 2011 est.) |
| Size: | 226,658 sq mi; slightly less than twice the size of Arizona |
| People Served: | 2,064,292 (2011 est.) |
History
From 1962 through 1996, Catholic Relief Services Madagascar primarily distributed food donations from the U.S. government to improve infant and maternal nutrition with 15 dioceses. To respond to high levels of malnutrition, CRS provided training to mothers of malnourished children to avoid dependence on assistance.
Later, in order to help make our work more sustainable, CRS Madagascar helped stabilize food production and accessibility, which included general relief, disaster assistance, and materials and training in improved agricultural production techniques in eight dioceses.
In 2003, CRS Madagascar redefined its five-year strategy to focus on food availability; disaster and risk management; HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; and justice, peace and solidarity. In 2010, the five-year strategy was again updated to focus more broadly on agriculture, resource management, resilience following disasters, health and peacebuilding.
Partners
In 2009, U.S. Agency for International Development/Food for Peace funded the SALOHI Program, a five-year $85 million initiative to address food security. The SALOHI Program was developed by a consortium including ADRA, CARE, Land O'Lakes, and Catholic Relief Services as the lead agency. CRS Madagascar's program activities are being implemented in five local dioceses. In addition, an early warning system is being coordinated with the World Food Program and local governance structures with assistance from Peace Corps Response Volunteers.
