In order to accelerate and better coordinate the development process, the government has created the present Madagascar Action Plan (MAP). The MAP is a bold five-year plan which establishes direction and priorities for the nation from 2007 to 2012. It states the commitments, strategies, and actions that will ignite rapid growth, lead to the reduction of poverty, and ensure that the country develops in response to the challenges of globalization and in accordance with the national vision “Madagascar Naturally” and the UN Millennium Development Goals. The MAP goals and strategies are directed to achieving poverty reduction and the enhancement of the quality of life for all Malagasy. In order to eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition, the government plans to improve access to drinking water and sanitation. Strategies to be implemented include: (i) develop and implement Water and Sanitation National Program to cover all aspects of water supply and usage including safe drinking water, water tables, irrigation, industrial uses, environmental protection and sewerage systems, (ii) set up community-managed integrated water system. In addition, a number of key strategies will be implemented by the strategy in order to improve nutrition and food security including: (i) focus on malnutrition among children under 5 especially addressing micronutrient deficiencies (vitamin A, iodine and iron), (ii) target food insecurity among vulnerable groups such as the very poor and victims of natural disasters, (iii) address micro-nutrient deficiencies among pregnant and lactating women at community level to reduce low birth weights. In order to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable, the government plans to launch a sustainable green revolution by: (i) intensification and improvement of productivity, (ii) extension and increase of cultivated surfaces, (iii) provision and assistance with seed and fertilizer, (iv) implement sustainable forest management techniques and forest plantations in appropriate areas to satisfy the demand for forestry products and tree seedlings and other measures to support forestation. Regarding the reduction of the rural poverty, the government will ensure that the labour force is well qualified and able to respond to the needs of the economy, through, among others: (i) stimulate job generating sectors, (ii) reform labor laws including establishing industrial arbitration court, (iii) develop a national manpower plan to align labor to the needs of the economy, (iv) provide vocational training to support the priority industries that contribute to the high growth economy, (v) encourage the increase in savings, (vi) to improve support for the very poor and vulnerable populations. To enable inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the government plans to increase the agricultural value added and promote agribusiness. Strategies to be implemented include: (i) enhance and co-ordinate the agricultural value chain: (i) production and processing, (ii) set up agribusiness centers (ABCs) to train and support farmers in processing, marketing and supply chain management, (iii) promote modern production practices (standards and quality), (iv) develop contractual agriculture between large buyers and small-scale farmers, (v) provide enabling infrastructure, policies and administration, (vi) develop mechanisms for product standardization and certification, implement a program to support the producers. To increase the resilience of livelihoods to disasters, the government plans to increase the protected areas for the conservation of land, lake, marine and coastal biodiversity. Strategies to be implemented include: (i) establish new land, lake, marine and coastal protected areas, (ii) ensure financial sustainability for the management of protected areas and the biodiversity, (iii) manage the protected areas and the land, lake, marine and coastal biodiversity, (iv) value the biodiversity in a sustainable manner, (v) establish a national eco-tourism framework and strategy to contribute to the protection and promotion of the environment and to ensure “eco-eco” harmonization (economic-ecological), (vi) improve the forest revenue system and reform tax laws to ensure a taxation on negative consequences that contribute to pollution and degradation.
Madagascar · 2007-01-01