Madagascar country strategic plan (2019 - 2024)

CSP approved at EB.A/2019

Revision 01 approved by the CD in June 2021.

Revision 02 approved by the ED-DGFAO in December 2021.

Revision 03 approved by the RD in May 2022.

Revision 04 approved by the ED-DGFAO in October 2022.

Revision 05 approved by the RD in December 2023.

Madagascar is a low-income country facing hunger challenges categorized as alarming on the 2017 Global Hunger Index. Eighty percent of the population lives in poverty. Low incomes and poor agricultural productivity contribute to food and nutrition insecurity. The situation is exacerbated by declining natural resources, increasingly prevalent and severe climate-related shocks, the limited capacity of governance systems and infrastructure, gender inequalities and traditional practices that perpetuate malnutrition. The income of more than half the population is less than the cost of a minimum nutritious diet, and 47 percent of children under 5 are stunted.

The Government’s development priorities are articulated in the national development plan for 2015–2019 and have the aim of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through strategies that deliver inclusive economic growth and build human, economic and environmental capital for sustainable development. This approach is reflected in the 2018 integrated strategy for development of the Grand Sud. WFP is uniquely placed to contribute to the achievement of these objectives by helping the Government establish effective systems for crisis response, social protection, school feeding, the prevention of malnutrition, and resilient livelihoods. These efforts will support delivery of the objectives of current and future United Nations development assistance frameworks and the Government’s strategic ambition of “valuing and protecting Madagascar’s natural capital through strong growth and inclusive services for the equitable and sustainable development for all”.

WFP’s country strategic plan is informed by learning from the 2017–2018 national zero hunger strategic review, evaluations of past operations, a synthesis reports on evaluation findings and a gender review. Collectively, these documents highlight the role that WFP can play in supporting gender transformation for addressing the immediate food and nutrition needs of vulnerable women, men, girls and boys while supporting resilience-building efforts. To maximize the impact of these activities, WFP will support the Government in the development of a shock-responsive social protection system linked to a robust national emergency preparedness and response system. Multi-agency partnerships delivering nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive programming will be mainstreamed in all activities, as will institutional capacity-strengthening efforts that reinforce government leadership and sustainability.

The country strategic plan has five mutually reinforcing strategic outcomes that have the aim of promoting an integrated, shock-responsive social protection system for ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to nutritious food before, during and after crises; providing children in vulnerable communities with access to nutritious foods while at school; extending integrated approaches for the prevention of malnutrition among vulnerable women, adolescent girls and children; building the resilience of vulnerable smallholder households and communities; and ensuring that interventions for addressing both chronic and acute needs are supported by enhanced capacities and resources for emergency preparedness and response.

This country strategic plan is aligned with WFP Strategic Results 1, 2, 4 and 8 and will contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 17, together with national targets related to Sustainable Development Goals for gender equality, education, health, climate change