Strengthening long-term relations between the U.S. and Madagascar

In response to climate challenges, the United States is ramping up its support for Madagascar. With a 22.1 million USD fund, two major projects, Vikina and Harea, will be launched to assist vulnerable households in the South and Southeast in building resilience and ensuring food security.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) initiated the Vikina and Harea projects to help Malagasy communities cope with the devastating effects of climate change. These initiatives will benefit 88,000 households. « These efforts will ensure long-term nutritional security for 88,000 households, funded during their first year of implementation », USAID stated in its official announcement.

Climate change has had a direct impact on southern regions of Madagascar, with the South facing recurrent droughts, while the Southeast is frequently hit by floods and cyclones. These extreme weather events have severely disrupted food security in these areas.

USAID has been active in Madagascar since 1984. During the presentation of the projects, Maria Price Detherage, USAID’s Deputy Administrator, remarked, « The U.S. government, through USAID, leads in development initiatives and disaster response ». This new initiative reinforces the long-standing relationship between the United States and Madagascar.