The African Development Bank (AfDB), and Madagascar’s Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene have entered a strategic partnership to secure access to water and strengthen the island-nation’s climate change resilience.
With funding of $3.32 million, the initiative is poised to fortify the country’s infrastructure and secure measures to avert economic losses triggered by climate change.
“The project comes at the right time,” stated Madagascar’s Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Ravokatra Fidiniavo, adding, “The Government has great hopes in it and in the support of the African Development Bank for this project.”
Funding will be provided by the concessional financing arm of the AfDB, the Project Preparation Facility, and will cover the regions of Amoron’I Mania, Vakinankaratra, Analamanga, Haute Matsiatra, Ihorombe, and Androy in Madagascar.
“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,” stated the AfDB’s Country Manager in Madagascar, Adam Amoumoun.
The investment comes at a time of severe alternating droughts and floods in Madagascar, resulting in a severe food crisis for the East African country. The aim of the project is to mobilize, protect, and develop water resources to improve access to drinking water, reduce gender-based inequalities, and promote sustainable socioeconomic development in the project areas.