Madagascar
Capital:
Antananarivo
Population:
29.6 million
Area:
587,041
km2

Madagascar is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity – 90% of wildlife here exists nowhere else on Earth. But the world’s fourth largest island is less well known for its lack of clean water and decent toilets.

Most people are small-scale farmers, growing just enough to feed their families. Dirty rivers are the only source of water for almost half the population, and only one in ten people has a decent toilet. Deadly diarrhoeal diseases are common, but many families can’t afford to see a doctor.

The island is vulnerable to tropical cyclones, droughts and floods, which destroy existing facilities. Climate change is making these events more frequent – so precious water resources are becoming even harder to protect.

people don't have clean water.

That's almost half the population.

people don't have a decent toilet.

That's around 9 in 10.

children under five die a year from diarrhoea.

Caused by dirty water and poor toilets.

Our work in Madagascar

We’ve been working in Madagascar since 1999.

We strengthen the skills of national and local officials, encourage different government ministries to work together, and fight to put hygiene at the top of the agenda.

We support people to understand and demand their rights to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene.

And we show others how to scale up our approach, so even more people can benefit.

Making sure no one's left behind

New taps or toilets aren't much good if people can’t use them – so we train advocates like Saidson Bruno, leader of a centre for disabled people in Morondova, to demand that local authorities provide services that are accessible to all.

Image: WaterAid/ Ernest Randriarimalala

Supporting women to become financially independent

As part of our work bringing clean water and sanitation to rural Manjakandriana, we’ve been supporting local residents – many of whom earn less than $1 a day – to set up and manage their own village savings and loan associations (VSLA).

One such association is Soafiary (meaning ‘good things are grown and saved’) in the village of Volavy. Members contribute what they can each week, then take loans when they need to, so money's no longer a worry when it comes to things like school fees or home repairs.

As well as financial security, the group gives women the chance to come together, take ownership of their finances, and challenge traditional beliefs about their roles as home-makers.

Soafiary has definitely changed our lives in our village... I am so grateful to be part of this amazing change in our community. I am so proud of us and what we have achieved so far.
Narindra Miora Tolojanahary, VSLA member

Giving children time to learn

With clean water on tap, children like Tantely can focus on getting the education that will help them take control of their futures.

Image: WaterAid/ Ernest Randriarimalala

Before the arrival of clean water, daily life in remote Tsarafangitra was a struggle. Children were often sick, leaving parents with no choice but to spend what little money they earned on medicine. Time spent collecting water was time taken away from work and education.

But since we worked with the community to build toilet blocks and a gravity-flow water system, everything's changed.

Children no longer waste hours fetching dirty water. They don’t miss lessons because they’re ill. And, with drinking water and toilets at school, pupils can concentrate on learning.

Access to these essentials has given children the opportunity to play, to learn – and to dream of the future.

I like school... I want to be a doctor when I grow up.
Tantely, 8

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Delve deeper into our work

Explore the latest publications, research and policy papers from our work in Madagascar.

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