Antananarivo,
December 10, 2021
(…)
We are here today to announce $25 million in new U.S. government funding to help farmers and to provide food assistance to people in southern Madagascar. On behalf of the American people, USAID will fund four separate projects to help farmers prepare for the next harvest and to provide immediate food assistance to those in need.
Each project will be managed by our partner organizations and be led by:
- Pasqualina Di Sirio of the World Food Program
- Tanja Englberger of Catholic Relief Services
- Faniry Hantarinivo of Action Contre La Faim
- Benjamin Rakotoarisoa of the International Potato Center
Addressing the crisis in the south remains a top priority for the U.S. government. Since 2015, we have led the emergency response by providing $61.2 million of assistance in food relief to hundreds of thousands of people and health assistance to prevent and treat malnutrition in pregnant mothers and young children.
Thankfully, the latest data is showing that we are making difference. We are having positive impacts. Emergency assistance has reduced the severity of food insecurity faced by poor.
However, the situation remains urgent. Current estimates suggest that over one million people are food insecure and need support. The Malagasy government and the United Nations recently issued a flash appeal for an additional $155 million in urgently needed emergency assistance. We call on donors to respond and to do everything they can for the south at this point.
Today’s $25 million in funding will be implemented by four projects:
- $18.5 million will go to World Food Program to continue providing food and cash assistance to over 463,000 people
- $6.5 million will go to three agriculture recovery projects to help farmers increase agricultural output
- Catholic Relief Services and Action Contre La Faim will provide drought-resistant seeds and tools for farmers and help to ensure agricultural water supply helping 376,000 people
- And a new project with the International Potato Center to train farmers to grow and cook orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, a nutritious and drought-resistant vegetable that can be stored for up to six months, making it an ideal crop to help families get through the lean season and benefitting 400,000 people
Our projects are feeding over 700,000 people, treating and preventing malnutrition in nearly 93,000 children, improving water access for 50,000 people, and they promote sustainable agriculture activities for almost 45,000 farmers.
We are proud to stand like “mpirahalahy mianala” with the people of Madagascar to respond to the urgent needs of families in hunger and to provide long-term solutions to food insecurity.
Misaotra betsaka.