USAID celebrated its thirty years of presence in Madagascar on December 12th. In the three decades since it first opened an office in Antananarivo in 1984, USAID has been working to protect Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, support anti-corruption reforms, increase access to basic education, reduce food insecurity, strengthen the country’s ability to respond to natural disasters, improve access to basic health care and family planning services, and fight trafficking in persons.
The U.S. Embassy, through USAID/Madagascar, announced two new food security programs, which will directly benefit over 620,000 individuals. The programs Asotry*, implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA); and Fararano*, carried out by Catholic Relief Services (CRS), will receive a total of $75 million in support (over 188 billion Ariary) to reduce food insecurity and increase vulnerable households’ resilience to shocks in five regions: Amoron’I Mania, Atsimo Andrefana, Atsinanana, Haute Matsiatra and Vatovavy-Fitovinany.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Global Health Wade Warren is currently visiting Madagascar, until May 3, to learn about USAID/Madagascar’s health programs and some of the innovative work being done throughout the country. USAID is the largest bi-lateral health partner: this year, USAID/Madagascar’s assistance budget in the sector is $48 million.
Moroni, Comoros: USAID/Madagascar Mission Director Susan Sawhill Riley visited Grand Comoros March 10 – 13 to review the accomplishments of a small USAID-finance program managed by Planet Finance that has created employment and income generation opportunities.
“This $317,000 microfinance program is increasing the business and leadership skills of vulnerable groups helping them learn to manage businesses, increasing their access to credit, and promoting the entrepreneurial spirit that is so essential to development,” said Ms. Sawhill Riley.
ANTSIRANANA, MADAGASCAR : The Director General of USAID Madagascar, Susan Sawhill Riley, visited Diego Suarez February 24 to 27 as part of a tour of health projects, and share with partners and beneficiaries USAID’s major priorities, including the renewed promise to end preventable maternal and child deaths.
Mission Director Susan Sawhill Riley attended on September 30 in Mahajanga the launch of a mass distribution campaign for close to 3,000,000 mosquito nets to fight malaria across northwestern Madagascar. This campaign, conducted by USAID and its partners, including PSI/Madagascar, UNICEF and the Global Fund, impressive logistic and staff.
Antananarivo, Madagascar: USAID/Madagascar is celebrating the achievements of a major five-year $31.5 million project that will reach its completion in July 2013. The USAID-funded community health project, Santenet2, was dedicated to increasing the use of life-saving primary health care services and commodities in Madagascar. Santenet2 assisted the Malagasy people by providing services in maternal and child health, nutrition, family planning, reproductive health, malaria control, and sexually-transmitted infections (STI/HIV/AIDS).
Poverty and the absence of opportunities for productive employment are the known primary causes for human trafficking. Today, the Comoros is considered to be source country of men, women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Therefore, to counteract human trafficking in the Comoros, the USAID mission to Madagascar and the Comoros has awarded a grant to PlaNet Finance in the amount of $317,000 to implement a microfinance program which will create employment and income generation opportunities.
USAID/Madagascar announced a five-year $36 million health program on February 28. The new Integrated Social Marketing Program (ISM), implemented by PSI Madagascar nationwide, will improve people’s health and increase the use of health products and services.
Comment
Make a general inquiry or suggest an improvement.