Madagascar

Madagascar is one of the world’s poorest countries; it is also one of the most exposed to the consequences of climate change. People with disabilities often live in extremely challenging circumstances.

Our actions

Several little girls are gathered in their school playground, laughing together.

Madagascar, 2023. Little girls at a special school for deaf and/or hard-of-hearing children play during break time. | © Rakotondraparany D. Njara / HI

HI has been working in Madagascar for more than 35 years. After setting up several orthopaedic centres and rehabilitation projects, the programme is now facilitating access to healthcare for people with disabilities, promoting their social inclusion and defending their rights.

The team runs various projects, always placing people with disabilities and vulnerable people at the centre of its activities. For example, the programme is engaged in developing an "education-training" continuum to strengthen equal opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to succeed along their educational and learning pathways.

HI supports the mental health of people in psychosocial distress and/or living with mental health disorders, notably in Madagascar's prisons.

HI also contributes to the humanitarian response by working with people suffering from food insecurity. This consists in identifying the most vulnerable populations, in particular people with disabilities, providing technical support to partners and working towards greater inclusion.

HI is also building capacity to prepare for and respond to climate hazards through an integrated and inclusive multisector approach. Teams are also supporting vulnerable families affected by the current drought with food aid and stimulation therapy to prevent disabilities in children suffering from acute and severe malnutrition.

Background

Map of Humanity & Inclusion's interventions in Madagascar

Madagascar remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with 81% of the population still living below the internationally recognised poverty line of US$1.90/day.

It is the fourth poorest country in the world in terms of per capita wealth and is currently facing a situation of food insecurity due to climate change and prolonged drought. 1.64 million people are acutely food insecure and 309,000 children were acutely malnourished in 2022.

The fallout from the conflict in Ukraine, the multiple waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme weather events in 2022 and 2023 have led to a slowdown in growth. Unemployment remains high and the situation of people with disabilities is particularly difficult. They are strongly discriminated against in their communities. Marginalised, their economic and social inclusion remains complicated. Intellectual disability is particularly taboo on the island.

Number of HI staff: 165
Programmed opened in: 1987