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USAID/Madagascar 

Operational Plan 

FY 2006 

June 2, 2006 
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Please Note: 

The attached RESULTS INFORMATION is from the FY 2006 Operational Plan and was assembled 

and analyzed by the country or USAID operating unit identified on the cover page. 

The Operational Plan is a "pre-decisional" USAID document and does not reflect results stemming 

from formal USAID review(s) of this document. 

Related document information can be obtained from: 

USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse 

8403 Colesville Road, Suite 210 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

Telephone: (301) 562-0641 

Fax: (301) 588-7787 

Email: docorder@dec.cdie.org 

Internet: http://www.dec.org 

Portions released on or after July 1, 2006 
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Program Performance Summary FY 2005: Under the leadership of President Marc Ravalomanana, the 

Government of Madagascar (GOM) continued ambitious efforts to address the country’s immense 

development challenges. Stricken with widespread poverty, capacity deficits and corruption, Madagascar 

has an average per capita income of only $255; 46% of the population is illiterate; 70% of the population 

lives below the poverty line; 49% of children under age five are malnourished; infant, child and maternal 

mortality rates are unacceptably high and life expectancy hovers at 55 years. This dire social situation 

springs mainly from the combination of low economic growth-itself due in large part to Madagascar’s 20-

year, failed attempt at socialism-and a high population growth rate of 2.8%. 

One of the world’s top three “biodiversity hotspots”, Madagascar’s unique natural resources are 

threatened by poverty, unproductive agricultural methods, and weak governance. National development 

priorities established under the country’s Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan (PRSP) emphasize 1) 

strengthening the rule of law and good governance, 2) accelerating broad-based economic growth, and 3) 

promoting humanitarian development and social protection. To promote good governance, the 

Government of Madagascar (GOM) has established an Anti-Corruption Commission within the Office of 

the Presidency (CSLCC), as well as an independent, anti-corruption agency, BIANCO (both of which are 

supported under the USAID-managed Presidential Anti-Corruption Initiative). To promote economic 

growth, the GOM has introduced public finance and customs sector reforms; is working to reduce the illicit 

trade of precious and semi-precious gemstones, and is strengthening partnerships with the private sector. 

Recognizing the importance of its unique biodiversity to the long-term economic health of Madagascar 

and the welfare of its people, the GOM has pledged to increase protected forest areas from 1.7 million to 

6 million hectares by 2008. In the social sector, the GOM is committed to preventing the spread of 

HIV/AIDS; fighting malaria; strengthening health care at the community level; and increasing access to 

and the quality of primary education through its “Education for All” program. 

 

In conformance with Agency White Paper Transformational Development objectives, USAID/Madagascar 

advances Malagasy social and economic development through building human and institutional capacity 

across sectors. Mission Democracy and Governance interventions strengthen the capacity of 

Madagascar’s democratic institutions and civil society organizations (CSOs); increase the flow of 

information and government accountability and responsiveness to citizen needs. Health, population and 

nutrition programs work to increase the use and quality of health services and products throughout 

Madagascar, promote maternal and childhood health and nutrition, reduce infectious and non-infectious 

diseases (including malaria and HIV/AIDS), and strengthen institutional capacity to implement and 

evaluate health programs. Integrated environment and rural development activities help conserve 

Madagascar’s biological diversity by linking livelihoods with deforestation efforts and building GOM forest 

management capacity. Agriculture and trade program interventions reinforce Mission conservation and 

rural development efforts through increased market development and trade in forest based and other 

natural products. 

Challenges: Although the GOM continues to enjoy public support for the 2002 reform agenda initiated by 

President Marc Ravalomanana, Madagascar faces a number of significant challenges: that a weak and 

poorly equipped bureaucracy will fail deliver promised results; that ambitious social programs will outstrip 

government revenues; that the public will grow impatient with the pace of reform under the weight of 

grinding poverty and rising food prices; that vested interests will retard the reform agenda; that foreign 

investment will fail to materialize at the rate necessary to meet economic growth targets; or that natural 

disasters -- the country is vulnerable to annual cyclones -- will undermine GOM progress. In the nearterm, Presidential elections scheduled for 2007 are the most pressing social and political concern and 

potential cause for backsliding. The 2001 presidential elections were marred by widespread allegations of 

fraud and resulted in a six-month political and economic crisis culminating in the opposition candidate’s 

victory. National divisions over the election closely followed ethnic lines, and social tensions inflamed by 

the 2001 election persist throughout the country today. Coupled with increasing poverty, reduced public 

subsidies, and increasing competition for farmland and other natural resources, the 2007 election could 

be a flashpoint for the eruption of latent social tensions across Madagascar. 

U.S. Interests and Goals: The United States and Madagascar enjoy close relations, and Madagascar is 

an ally in the global fight against terrorism. The top three U.S. foreign policy objectives with respect to 
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Madagascar, as articulated in the Mission Performance Plan are: promotion of democracy; broad-based 

economic development, including health; and environmental protection. U.S. development assistance is 

motivated by Madagascar’s unique biodiversity, its growing importance as a bilateral commercial partner 

under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), and its deep poverty, which is exacerbated by 

natural disasters, food insecurity and weak social services. Complementary interests include the nascent 

HIV/AIDS epidemic, the country’s democratic transition, and combating Trafficking in Persons. USAID 

works closely with the Department of State in Madagascar across all programs. The U.S. Peace Corps 

(health and environment/rural development), U.S. Geological Survey (environment, rural development), 

U.S. Forest Service (environment and rural development), U.S. Department of Defense (HIV/AIDS), and 

the Center for Disease Control (polio, HIV/AIDS, cholera and diarrheal diseases), are all working with 

USAID in the achievement of U.S. development objectives. 

 

 

Key Achievements: 

Democracy and Governance: USAID continued its multi-sector approach to civil society development, 

government transparency promotion and supporting Madagascar’s fight against public corruption. Targets 

and baseline data for the program were established at the beginning of the fiscal year. During FY 2005, 

USAID awarded capacity building grants to 23 CSOs for training in advocacy, gender, and organizational 

development. At the national level, USAID worked closely with the United Nations and German 

development partners to establish Madagascar’s first national CSO Platform which assembled 220 

individual organizations under a common CSO charter. Through funding awarded under the Africa AntiCorruption Initiative, USAID funded sector specific anti-corruption assessments in the areas of tourism, 

industry and crafts. The Anti-Corruption High Council (CSLCC) used the data to develop and launch the 

GOM’s second national anti-corruption strategy for the 2005 - 2007 period. The Mission also trained 52 

Malagasy judges with the necessary skills and tools for processing anti-corruption cases. 

Health, Population and Nutrition: The Mission health program completed transition from start-up to full 

implementation mode and is on track. Strategic Objective performance data demonstrate that vaccination 

efforts in USAID target zones are succeeding with 91% of children age 12-23 months old completely 

vaccinated, compared to the national average rate of 53%. Approximately 3.5 million children between 

the ages of 6-59 months received Vitamin A, for a coverage rate of 97%. Rapid Assessment Procedure 

(RAP) survey data also demonstrate improvements in family planning, with 33% of mothers with infants 

practicing natural family planning (the “Lactational Amenorrhea Method” or “LAM”), up from 2% in 1999, 

and 22% of women using modern contraceptives as compared to the national contraceptive prevalence 

rate of 18%. During the fiscal year, USAID sold 1,383,363 cycles of oral contraceptives and 

544,401doses of injectable contraceptives an increase of over 11% and 21% respectively from the 

previous fiscal year. The Health, Population and Nutrition program achieved most of the output targets 

with just a couple of minor exceptions that were beyond the control of USAID. As a result of strong 

program performance, Madagascar was selected as one of two Africa region USAID “focus countries” for 

Family Planning and was awarded an additional $350,000 in population funding. 

Environment and Rural Development: USAID continued its leadership role under the GOM’s third-phase 

National Environmental Action Plan (GOM/NEAP), and made significant progress toward achieving 

strategic objective results. At the national level, the Mission facilitated GOM creation of the Madagascar 

Protected Areas System (SAPM) which will increase protected areas from 1.7 million hectares to 6 million 

hectares by the end of 2008. The FY 2005 target of 1 million hectares will be exceeded this year with the 

creation of 14 new protected areas totaling over 1 million hectares. USAID livelihood promotion efforts in 

this sector - a key element in the reduction of slash and burn agriculture - were also successful. As a 

result of USAID intervention, over 30,000 households are producing litchis for commercial export, and 

over 15,000 households have adopted new agricultural techniques using a farming systems approach, 

which has resulted in a 55% increase in income. USAID support for the development and marketing of 

environmentally-friendly natural products also exceeded fiscal year targets, resulting in 30 new contracts 

for purchase and export of jatropha (a promising bio-diesel fuel), potato, litchi, ginger, red rice, paddy rice, 

and maize, totaling over $1.5 million. 
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Agriculture and Trade: USAID agriculture and trade interventions exceeded targets for the fiscal year. 

Seven business service centers were created in priority ecological regions, which in turn contributed to 

the adoption of improved managerial and technical procedures by local businesses in these areas. In 

collaboration with USDA’s Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS), USAID provided key 

support to the Ministry of Agriculture in development of a Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) for litchis. 

Completion of the PRA is a critical prerequisite for Madagascar to enter the lucrative US litchi market. 

USAID also completed an important gemstone sector assessment, the recommendations of which will 

greatly help simplify exploitation and export procedures, strengthen small miner capacity and efficiency, 

and enhance anti-corruption efforts in the sector. 

PL480: Title II resources strengthen the overall impact of the USAID/Madagascar program. These 

resources support Mission Strategic Objectives in Health, Population and Nutrition as well as 

Environment and Rural Development. The Madagascar PL480 program has existed since 1962 and 

benefits thousands of people in the country each year. Approximately 40% of PL480 Title II resources are 

monetized, and the remainder distributed under Food for Work and Social Safety Net initiatives. 

Combined, monetization and distribution commodities improve the lives of Madagascar’s poorest and 

most vulnerable communities through funding such activities as farm to market roads, strengthening 

disaster management capabilities in rural areas, improving infrastructure in poor areas and promoting 

household nutrition. During FY2005, approximately 560,000 people were reached by the 

USAID/Madagascar PL480 program, covering 14 of 22 regions of the country. 

 

Gender: Gender considerations are fully integrated throughout the USAID/Madagascar activity portfolio. 

Specifically, USAID addresses gender by: increasing the participation of women in politics and civil 

society; promoting women’s legal advocacy, and implementation of HIV/AIDS, family planning and 

reproductive health programs. USAID/Madagascar is a leading participant in the Malagasy National 

Gender Network (MGN) - a group of CSOs, private individuals, GOM and donor community 

representatives working to promote gender equity and better coordinate gender sector activities. During 

FY2005, USAID provided technical assistance for preparation of the MGN results framework, and drafting 

of the MGN Manual of Procedures. Madagascar is also a focus country under the USAID Women’s Legal 

Rights Initiative, under which the country’s first-ever survey on women’s rights was conducted. The 

survey documented the perceptions and realities of Malagasy women, and identified obstacles to the full 

civic participation of women in Malagasy society. Mission health sector activities focus on increasing 

women’s access to quality services and products, especially for maternal, child and reproductive health. 

Health sector evaluation and assessment data is disaggregated by gender to better analyze overall 

trends, and because women are most often the primary household caregiver in Madagascar, primary 

health messages are targeted to women and developed in accordance to the educational level of rural 

women and men in the country. 

 

Presidential and Agency Initiatives: USAID/Madagascar responded to six Presidential and/or Agency 

initiatives in FY 2005 which included: 1) the Africa Anti-Corruption Initiative - where programs strengthen 

GOM anti-corruption and civil society organizations, 2) the Africa Education Initiative - where programs 

will train teachers through rural radio distance learning, 3) the Water for the Poor Initiative - where 

programs increase access to clean drinking water through watershed management and improved 

irrigation practices, 4) the Global Climate Change Initiative - where programs improve national park 

protection and management, 5) the Trafficking in Persons Initiative - where programs will strengthen 

public awareness about and controls against human trafficking, and 6) the Women’s Legal Rights 

Initiative - where programs train women about their constitutional and civil rights under Malagasy law. 
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FY 2006 Program 

SO: 687-004 Governance in Targeted Areas Improved 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education: Under the Africa Education Initiative (AEI), the 

Mission will begin a program to improve the quality of primary school education. In FY 2006, activities will 

include the development of the first set of radio-based training programs for teachers and educational 

programs for parent associations. This year, the program will also begin providing technical assistance 

and training to pilot school districts to develop a computerized system for assessing teachers’ capacities 

for the development of training curricula. The capacity of the Ministry of Education will be strengthened 

through close collaboration at the national, regional, and school district level. 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms ($400,000 DA): Through funding provided by the Africa 

Anti-corruption Initiative (ACI), USAID/Madagascar will continue to support the government’s anticorruption initiatives by providing financial and technical assistance to the government’s leading anticorruption institutions, including the National Anti-Corruption Council and the Independent Anti-Corruption 

Bureau, to scale up the government’s investigative and enforcement capacity. Activities will include 

establishing a system of prioritizing investigation and prosecution efforts, and assisting anti-corruption 

efforts the environment sector. In collaboration with the Mission’s environment program, the anticorruption program will improve environmental governance in key areas that are heavily impacted by 

corruption. Environmental governacne areas of focus will most likely include issues surrounding the 

government’s logging permit systems and Madagascar's gemstone industry. The program will also 

continue to strengthen the capacity of the local chapter of Transparency International to promote 

transparency in public financial accountability at the communal level. Due to the closing down of SO4's 

Good Governance program in FY06, the Mission will open a new procurement for the implementation of 

the ACI program. 

Reduce Trafficking In Persons 

Reduce Trafficking in Persons: USAID/Madagascar will begin a Trafficking in Persons (TIP) program to 

improve the provision of prevention, protection, and reintegration services for TIP victims and at-risk 

individuals, and increase public awareness about TIP in Madagascar. The program, in collaboration with 

the State Department, will provide financial and technical support to existing centers in high-risk areas 

that provide a variety of social services to victims and at-risk persons. The program may begin 

interventions in new areas based of the results of the TIP assessment being conducted through the State 

Department. The program will work closely with the government’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force and law 

enforcement agencies to increase their capacity to enforce anti-trafficking laws and prosecution efforts. 

Strengthen Civil Society 

Strengthen Civil Society ($492,000 DA). Due to budget cuts in Democracy and Goverannce core funding, 

the Mission was forced to begin phasing out its Good Governance program that was initiated in FY04. 

SO4 DA funding will be used for the close-out process that will include transitioning a number of the 

program's successful activities into the Mission's Environment and Health programs. These activities 

include support to radio networks, establishment of multi-sectoral information services at the regional 

level, and capacity building of regional dialogue structures. Anti-corruption activities, funded through the 

Anti-cCorruption Initiative (ACI), will continue through a new procurement. The close-out process will be 

complete by September, 2006. 

The Mission is anticipating that FY08 will be the last year for anti-corruption funding, and that all other 
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initiative activities, including education and trafficking in persons, will be ending the same year. One 

concern is that although the Mission’s strategy statement was recently approved, USAID/Madagascar will 

be seriously undermined in implementing this strategy without any democracy and governance core 

funding. In addition, the current SO4 program is tied closely to Madagascar’s efforts to adhere to MCA 

criteria of just governance, investments in people, and economic development. Without a continued 

commitment to democracy and governance activities in Madagascar, the country risks backsliding in the 

areas where USAID has made significant achievements, and not fulfilling the criteria for MCA eligibility. 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 687-004 Governance in Targeted Areas Improved 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education: In FY 2007, activities will provide training and 

radio-based programs to over 1,200 second grade teachers, and provide training and small grants to 25 

parent associations in three provinces to increase their involvement in local primary school management. 

The program will provide technical assistance and training to at least three school districts to develop a 

computerized system for assessing teachers’ capacities for the development of training curricula. The 

capacity of the Ministry of Education will be strengthened through close collaboration at the national, 

regional, and school district level. 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms 

Promote And Support Anti-Corruption Reforms ($400,000 DA): Through funding provided by the Africa 

Anti-corruption Initiative (ACI), USAID/Madagascar will continue to support the government’s anticorruption initiatives by providing financial and technical assistance to the government’s leading anticorruption institutions, including the National Anti-Corruption Council and the Independent Anti-Corruption 

Bureau, to scale up the government’s investigative and enforcement capacity. Activities will include 

establishing a system of prioritizing investigation and prosecution efforts. In collaboration with the 

Mission’s environment program, the anti-corruption program will continue to improve environmental 

governance in key areas that are heavily impacted by corruption. Environmental governacne areas of 

focus may include improving the government’s logging and mining permit systems, and issues 

surrounding the Madagascar's gemstone industry. The program will also continue to strengthen the 

capacity of the local chapter of Transparency International to promote transparency in public financial 

accountability at the communal level. 

Reduce Trafficking In Persons 

Reduce Trafficking in Persons: USAID/Madagascar will continue to improve the provision of prevention, 

protection, and reintegration services for TIP victims and at-risk individuals, and increase public 

awareness about TIP in Madagascar. The program, in collaboration with the State Department, will 

provide financial and technical support to existing centers in high-risk areas that provide a variety of social 

services to victims and at-risk persons. The program will provide legal counsel to victims and work 

closely with the government’s Anti-Trafficking Task Force and law enforcement agencies to increase their 

capacity to enforce anti-trafficking laws and prosecution efforts. 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 687-005 Use of Selected Health Services and Products Increased and Practices Improved 

Improve Access To Clean Water & Sanitation 

Improve Access to Clean Water and Sanitation ($530,000 CSH). USAID is helping develop the 

government’s hygiene improvement strategy. USAID is expanding access to potable water with simple, 

affordable solutions, promoting good hygiene and sanitation practices, and improving local water 
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management. Principal contractors and grantees: Chemonics, Population Service International (PSI) 

(primes), Hygiene Improvement Project, CARE, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Medical Care 

Development International (MCDI) and Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) (subs). 

Improve Child Survival, Health & Nutrition 

Improve Child Survival, Health and Nutrition ($2,757,000 CSH). USAID is providing technical assistance 

in the integrated management of childhood illnesses to the Ministry of Health and Family Planning at the 

central and service delivery levels. To further reduce child mortality, USAID is focusing efforts on 

vaccination coverage, expansion of essential nutrition actions, and prevention, early detection and 

treatment of childhood diseases. USAID is supporting training for over 3,000 medical professionals, the 

development of the national child health and nutrition guidelines, and improvements in commodity 

management and national surveillance systems. USAID efforts are engaging local leaders, linking 

communities with health care providers, and mobilizing communities. Principal contractors and grantees: 

Chemonics and PSI (primes), Linkages, MCDI, CARE, CRS, and ADRA (subs). 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases Of Major Importance 

Prevent and Control Infectious Diseases ($2,169,000 CSH). USAID provides technical assistance to the 

Ministry of Health in implementing the national malaria policy and supports: social marketing operations 

to address malaria prevention and treatment; indoor residual spraying; expanded mass media and rural 

outreach education; home-based care of uncomplicated malaria; and improved access to effective 

malaria treatment and insecticide-treated bed nets for children and pregnant women. Principal 

contractors and grantees: Chemonics and PSI (primes), CARE, CRS, ADRA, and MCDI (subs). 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission and Impact of HIV/AIDS ($1,977,000 CSH). USAID ensures that the Malagasy 

people have appropriate knowledge of and access to high-quality services for prevention and care of 

sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. USAID emphasizes prevention including targeting 

interventions to high risk populations; reducing the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections through 

healthy behavior; improving availability and quality of services and products to treat sexually transmitted 

infections; expanding behavior change communication; enhancing public/private partnerships; and 

improving surveillance and data collection and use. Principal contractors and grantees: Chemonics 

(prime), PSI, HIV Alliance, Family Health International, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and ADRA 

(subs). 

Support Family Planning 

Support Family Planning ($4,093,000 CSH; $2,000,000 prior year CSH). USAID is increasing demand for 

and access to family planning services and products through social marketing, community-based 

distribution and community mobilization. USAID provides state of the art technical assistance, training, 

and software to strengthen the logistics and management system for reproductive health commodities. 

USAID is also improving the technical and management capacity of selected organizations in family 

planning and expanding the integrated health, population, and environment interventions in remote biodiverse sites. Principal contractors and grantees: Chemonics and PSI (primes), CARE, ADRA, and 

MCDI (subs). 

P.L. 480 Title II-funded activities are helping food insecure families maintain nutrition levels, increase food 

production and income, and improve maternal and child health. 

FY 2007 Program 
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SO: 687-005 Use of Selected Health Services and Products Increased and Practices Improved 

Improve Access To Clean Water & Sanitation 

Improve Access to Clean Water and Sanitation ($530,000 CSH). USAID will provide leadership in 

behavior change, expand access to potable water, and continue improving health, hygiene, and sanitation 

interventions. Principal contractors and grantees: Same as FY 2006. 

Improve Child Survival, Health & Nutrition 

Improve Child Survival, Health and Nutrition ($2,945,000 CSH). USAID will support integrated 

management of childhood illnesses, immunization, promotion of nutrition and Vitamin A distribution, 

improvements in the delivery of quality health services, and maternal health interventions. Principal 

contractors and grantees: Same as FY 2006. 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases Of Major Importance 

Prevent and Control Infectious Diseases ($2,500,000 CSH). USAID will continue commodity support, 

indoor residual spraying, community mobilization and education activities in malaria treatment and 

prevention to assure effective treatment and prevention for pregnant women and children. Principal 

contractors and grantees: Same as FY 2006. 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission and Impact of HIV/AIDS ($1,980,000 CSH). USAID will continue to target 

innovative behavior change interventions, address access to products and services and continue to 

provide leadership in developing data for decision making. Principal contractors and grantees: Same as 

FY 2006. 

Support Family Planning 

Support Family Planning ($3,524,000 CSH). USAID will continue activities to strengthen commodity 

distribution systems and community-based distribution, and will maintain community outreach and social 

marketing activities. P.L. 480 Title II-funded activities will continue to improve maternal and child health, 

nutrition and food security. Principal contractors and grantees: Same as FY 2006. 

All family planning assistance agreements will incorporate clauses that implement the President’s 

directive restoring the Mexico City Policy. 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 687-006 Biologically Diverse Forest Ecosystems Conserved 

Improve Sustainable Management Of Natural Resources & Biodiversity 

Improve Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Biodiversity ($4,091,000 DA). USAID is 

working toward improved protected area management by continuing to fund activities to implement 

President Ravalomanana’s pledge to triple the country’s protected area network. This process includes 

creating new protected areas and developing and improving protected area management systems. 

USAID continues to provide support to this process by ensuring a legal framework for new protected 

areas is established by strengthening the institutional, technical and financial capacity of protected area 

managers; implementing the Malagasy environmental trust funds; and developing new mechanisms for 

sustainable financing of protected areas. These efforts will result in an additional 1,000,000 hectares of 
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new protected areas in FY 2006. In addition, USAID is supporting forest management reform through the 

creation and implementation of a plan to manage production forests for wood supply, and the design and 

implementation of a new forest control system in accordance with the recommendations provided by the 

U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service. USAID also is continuing to support efforts to finalize 

forest zoning at the national and regional levels. Principal contractors and grantees: Conservation 

International and International Resources Group (primes), World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Wildlife 

Conservation Society (subs). 

Protect and Increase the Assets and Livelihoods of the Poor 

Protect and Increase the Assets and Livelihoods of the Poor ($3,500,000 DA). USAID links forest 

conservation and improved livelihoods by: improving agricultural production through a farming systems 

approach; promoting community based natural resources management; and ensuring farmer-to-market 

linkages. Outside protected areas, USAID is promoting alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture by 

training farmer-to-farmer extension agents in natural resource management and agricultural development, 

with an emphasis on the adoption of small-scale, integrated farming systems. USAID is also continuing 

to reinforce the pioneering “Green Commune” approach, which certifies communities who cease burning 

and engage in reforestation efforts. USAID continues to support farmers to become good stewards of the 

environment and to produce agricultural products for market to increase their incomes. USAID is also 

strengthening farmers’ ability to organize and sign contracts with the government to manage community 

forests. In addition, USAID is helping link farmers to the private sector to increase farmers’ ability to sell 

natural products and extract benefit from the sustainable management of natural resources. A marketbased strategy to strengthen ecologically and economically sustainable forest and natural product 

enterprises through technical and financial assistance to 20 eco-enterprises and small businesses is 

being coupled with assistance to increase and improve ecotourism. Principal contractors and grantees: 

Chemonics, Development Alternatives Inc. and Wildlife Conservation Society (primes). 

Support Democratic Local Government & Decentralization 

Support Democratic Local Government and Decentralization ($500,000 DA). USAID’s joint environmental 

and governance activities help government units increase access to information about natural resource 

management and ensure that a vibrant civil society exists to advocate for environmental issues. USAID 

is working to ensure that regional and communal development plans are implemented, and that rural 

radio networks are independent and sustainable. In addition, improvements to forest-sector governance 

continue to be made through a transparent permit bidding system and improvements to information 

systems. Finally, USAID is working with the Government of Madagascar’s (GOM) National Office of the 

Environment to ensure environmental impact assessments are submitted and reviewed, and that ongoing investments are monitored regarding mitigation of environmental impacts. Principal contractors 

and grantees: PACT, International Resources Group (primes), Catholic Relief Services, and GOM’s 

National Office of the Environment (subs). 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 687-006 Biologically Diverse Forest Ecosystems Conserved 

Improve Sustainable Management Of Natural Resources & Biodiversity 

Improve Sustainable Management of Natural Resources & Biodiversity ($3,929,000 DA). Efforts will be 

pursued to triple protected areas with the formal establishment of an additional one million hectares. New 

models for protecting critical biodiversity outside of the national park system and that involve local 

communities and private sector operators will be put into place, and additional funding mechanisms will 

be explored for protected area management. Support will be reinforced for a revitalized forest authority 

and forest management systems. Forest industry activities will also be increased to promote reforestation 

and ecological restoration zones. Principal contractors and grantees: Same as FY 2006. 
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Protect and Increase the Assets and Livelihoods of the Poor 

Protect and Increase the Assets and Livelihoods of the Poor ($3,300,000 DA). To better conserve 

biodiversity, USAID will expand its work with farmer organizations to promote business relations between 

producer associations and eco-enterprises to access domestic and international markets for agricultural 

and natural products. The partnership agreement between managers of protected areas and private 

sector operators will be expanded to enhance ecotourism products and services. USAID will continue to 

support communities that reduce destructive farming methods, and will increase the number of 

communities assisted. Principal contractors and grantees: Same as FY 2006. 

Support Democratic Local Government & Decentralization 

Support Democratic Local Government and Decentralization ($500,000 DA). USAID plans to continue its 

crosscutting environmental governance program by helping the government, civil society organizations 

(CSOs), and the private sector gain access to information to promote better environmental decision 

making, and bring communication access to towns bordering the country’s remaining primary forest. 

USAID also plans to continue providing assistance to CSOs to improve their ability to serve as 

environmental advocates. Finally, USAID will continue to support the forest service in its efforts to 

improve governance. Principal contractors and grantees: Same as FY 2006. 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 687-007 Critical Private Markets Expanded and Strengthened 

Improve Economic Policy and the Business Environment 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness 

Strengthen The Financial Services Sector & Increase Access to Capital 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 687-007 Critical Private Markets Expanded and Strengthened 

Improve Economic Policy and the Business Environment 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness 

Strengthen The Financial Services Sector & Increase Access to Capital 
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Results Framework 

687-004 Governance in Targeted Areas Improved 

Program Title: Governance in Targeted Areas Improved 

 4.1: Deeper and Stronger Civil Society 

 4.2: Information Flow Increased 

 4.3: Government Responsiveness Increased 

687-005 Use of Selected Health Services and Products Increased and Practices Improved 

Program Title: Selected Health Services and Products 

 5.1: Demand for Selected Health Services and Products Increased 

 5.2: Availability of Selected Health Services and Products Increased 

 5.3: Quality of Selected Health Services Improved 

 5.4: Institutional Capacity to Implement and Evaluate Health Programs Improved 

687-006 Biologically Diverse Forest Ecosystems Conserved 

Program Title: Biologically Diverse Forest Ecosystems Conserved 

 6.1: Forest Management System Improved 

 6.2: Biological Integrity of Critical Biodiversity Habitats Maintained 

 6.3: Alternatives Adopted to Reduce Slash and Burn Practices 

 6.4: Investment Initiatives and Partnerships in Natural Resource Management Increased 

 6.5: Environmental Governance Improved 

687-007 Critical Private Markets Expanded and Strengthened 

Program Title: Critical Private Markets Expanded 

 7.0: Agricultural Production and Practices Improved 

 7.1: Efficiency of Ag and non-Ag Enterprises Increased 

 7.2: Access to Markets Improved 

 7.3: Enabling Environment Improved 

Discussion: Due to budget constraints, SO7 does not have funding to implement activities in support of 

the Intermendiate Result: “agricultural production and practices improved”. USAID interventions are 

limited to downstream activities in selected value-chains. SO7 will rely on partners’ interventions, 

including SO6 and Title II, to ensure that we meet our targets and that all necessary components to 

increasing exports and income are incorporated in the strategy. 

687-008 Support to the Milllenium Challenge Corporation Program in Madagascar 

Program Title: Support to MCC