What Is Madagascar’s GDP?

According to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts, Madagascar’s GDP is predicted to reach 14.00 USD billion by the end of 2021. According to our econometric models, Madagascar’s GDP will trend around 14.50 USD billion in 2022 and 15.30 USD billion in 2023 in the long run.

What is Madagascar’s GDP rank?

Madagascar is ranked 135th in the 196 countries we publish in terms of GDP in 2020, with a figure of $13,056 million. Madagascar’s GDP fell by $1,049 million in absolute terms in 2019 compared to the previous year.

What is the economy of Madagascar?

Madagascar is the world’s fifth largest island, located off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. From Asian and Persian traders in the 7th century, the island has played an important role for international traders. In the 17th century, Madagascar was a pirate stronghold, and in the 18th century, it was a significant slave selling center. In the 16th century, the French colonial power captured and colonized Madagascar, but it regained independence in 1960.

Despite having a variety of natural resources such as graphite, chromite, coal, fish, and hydropower, Madagascar’s economy is still reliant on agriculture. Agriculture contributes 25% of the country’s $37.5 billion GDP (PPP), and accounts for 80% of jobs on the island. Madagascar is the world’s second-largest producer of vanilla, and its agricultural goods include coffee, sugarcane, and rice. Madagascar’s economy is reliant on the export of agricultural products due to a lack of domestic demand. In 2016, international exports accounted for 33% of their GDP, with coffee and other spices like vanilla accounting for more than a quarter of the total.

Madagascar has been plagued by poor economic conditions and political instability since obtaining independence from France nearly 60 years ago. The vulnerability of Madagascar’s economy to natural disasters is one of the country’s most serious problems. Three significant natural catastrophes strike the island on average every year, with cyclones in the Indian Ocean being the greatest hazard. Two big natural catastrophes in 2017 alone cost an estimated $400 million in damages, accounting for around 4% of the overall economy. In March, Cyclone Enawo destroyed one-third of the country’s vanilla output, causing a global price spike.

Madagascar confronts long-term problems in improving education, healthcare, and the environment, in addition to the ever-present possibility of a natural disaster.

Madagascar is “the fifth largest country in the world with the highest number of unschooled children,” according to the World Bank. There have also been huge problems in the healthcare sector, many of which arise from a bubonic plague outbreak this fall. The plague is prevalent on the island, with almost 80% of global mortality from the sickness that decimated Europe in the 14th century occurring there. Finally, deforestation and the resulting desertification pose a serious threat to agriculture.

Despite the numerous economic challenges and uncertainties, Madagascar’s GDP is forecast to increase by 4.3 percent in 2017, with medium-term growth rates hovering around 5%.

Increased international aid and private sector investment will help Madagascar manage the aforementioned economic concerns and tap into its vast natural resources, thanks to a relative stabilization of the political climate.

Which section of Madagascar is the most beautiful?

Madagascar, known for its lemurs, baobab trees, birdwatching, and jungles, provides a diverse playground for travelers to explore. The wide canyons and gorges, the big waterfalls, and the sheer diversity of the scenery fascinated me.

You’re in a tropical rainforest one day, an arid plain the next, and a subtropical woodland just a few hours later! Furthermore, there appear to be an infinite number of lemur species.

Despite the fact that Madagascar is distant and getting affordable flights can be difficult, with just 350,000 visitors each year, you will have much of the nation to yourself! (And because you never know where the next “it” destination will be, it’s always best to travel sooner rather than later!)

Though I didn’t spend as much time there as I’d like (the roads are bad; it takes eight hours to travel 250 kilometers), here are some of the highlights of your trip:

Avenue of the Baobabs

Baobab trees can grow to be 98 feet tall and 36 feet wide, with a lifespan of 1,000 years (about equivalent to an eight-story skyscraper). Because the climate is so dry, they grow so large in order to absorb and store water (as much as 1,000 gallons of water can be stored in a single tree).

While there are other trees in the genus that are similar to baobabs, they are only found in Madagascar. They’re a sight to behold, especially when your guide casually remarks that the colossal one you’re hugging is only 400 years old. Unfortunately, clearcutting and agriculture have made the trees an endangered species.

While the trees can be found all across Madagascar, this road lined with them (about an hour outside of Morondava) which seems like it came straight out of a postcard is one of the country’s most iconic images. Sunrise and sunset are the finest times to take photographs. When are the most people present? Those were the same times. Choose your poison.

Tsingy

This park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, is located near the western coast and is difficult to reach. To get there, you’ll need a full day of four-wheeling on really rugged terrain. It’s a fairly secluded location with few visitors.

Water and wind carved the limestone into jagged peaks that like a row of never-ending knives over 200 million years (thus the name Tsingy, which means “where one cannot go barefoot”). Rope bridges, ladders, and permanent cables are used to navigate about. There is a lot of caving in the area, and many people combine a vacation here with a slow boat ride down the Tsiribihina River (send pics if you go, because I regrettably missed the river owing to time constraints!).

Isalo National Park

This park, which was established in 1962 and is located in the south-central portion of the country, has a variety of rough hiking paths (bring water and a hat, as you will be exposed for the most of the time), cliffs, ravines, gorges, and canyons, as well as abundant biodiversity (there are over 100 species of birds here). It’s a park that reminds me of Westworld, and it blew me away. It was my favorite spot on the island of Madagascar.

After your treks, there are three waterfalls to cool off in and a variety of lemur species to see (they get very close because they are desensitized to humans, so watch your food!). You must pay a guide (who can be found at the entry), but they were excellent interpreters of the country and culture.

Aside from that, the clean sky and lack of light pollution make for some spectacular sunsets and starry nights. I’d never seen the Milky Way before.

Nosy Be

Nosy Be is the spot to visit if you want to see Madagascar’s famous beaches. Nosy Be is a volcanic island that spans over 120 square miles and is located five miles off the shore of the main island (310 sq km). Despite the fact that it is a volcanic island, no eruptions have ever been documented.

White-sand beaches and a more upmarket, Western environment can be found here. There are a lot of couples and families, as well as pricey restaurants and large resorts (which is generally who visits Madagascar). Every Sunday, there are beach parties, and there is some fantastic snorkeling, diving, fishing, and whale viewing (the waters around Nosy Be are home to humpback and dwarf fin whales). It’s the ideal tropical island paradise, complete with the quintessential price tag (but it does have the greatest beach in the country!).

le Sainte Marie

While everyone flocks to Nosy Be for the better beaches and more opulent resorts, le Sainte Marie off the eastern coast offers something a little more authentic, affordable, and laid-back.

This fascinating island, known as Nosy Boraha, is full of small coves, a pirate graveyard, wonderful seafood, and a laid-back Caribbean-like ambiance (Captain Kidd, the 17th-century Scottish pirate, sank nearby). It has a population of approximately 26,000 people and covers an area of 85 square miles (220 sq km). While the beaches aren’t as good as those on Nosy Be, there is a lovely, pure white-sand beach near the airport in the south of the island that few people visit. This is also the best place in the country to see whales (humpback whales come here to breed between July-September).

Fly if you’re coming here. The slow ferry is frequently late and lands nowhere near a major mainland city. Taking the boat is a complete waste of time.

Ranomafana National Park

Ranomafana, a perfect example of a tropical cloud forest, was my second favorite spot after Isalo. There are twelve species of lemurs here, making it one of the greatest places in the country to watch them.

Aside from lemurs, there were giraffe beetles, as well as numerous birds, chameleons, and other animals. I would do the morning hike at the main entrance, then the afternoon and night hikes at the secondary entrance, as most tours bypass it and you get more of the park to yourself. (In the next town, there are additional hot springs to relax in.)

Because of the park’s popularity, the number of people who can visit each day is limited, therefore it’s preferable to visit during the off-season. Even though the park covers 161 square miles (415 square kilometers), you only get to view a few square miles of it, so it may get congested, especially in the mornings when the tour buses arrive.

Andasibe-Mantadia National Park (Lemur Island)

The Indri lemur, which emits a sound like a howling devil bat and resonates over the jungle, is found here between the city and the east coast. Nearby lies the famed Lemur Island ($3 USD entrance), which is home to four different kinds of lemurs that were rescued from being kept as pets.

The park, which was established in 1989 and covers 155 square kilometers (60 square miles), is a protected area. On average, it rains for over 210 days every year. Because they have been domesticated, the lemurs here allow you to get up close and personal. When they’re ready, they’re released back into their natural habitat to be wild once more. However, if they are unable to adapt, they can live freely in the park and are protected from outside hazards, as logging and cultivation have isolated the park from adjacent natural landscapes, posing a threat to the area’s fauna.

Toliara

This little port town on the west coast is known for the expats who settle there, the pizza (which is a national dish), and for being a launching point for diving expeditions to the Great Reef offshore. There’s not much else to do but sit on the beach or go swimming.

The city was built by French buccaneers (pirates) in the 17th century for commercial trading purposes, and it grew during the French occupation.

The drive here on the N7 (South Africa’s only north-south highway) is equally spectacular, with stops in Ranomafana, Isalo, and other places along the way!

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is Madagascar’s capital and largest city, with a population of approximately 1.6 million people. The city was already a thriving cultural powerhouse before to French occupation in 1897. The city’s population exploded after the country gained independence in 1960.

Today, it’s a hectic location with little to do, but it’s an excellent stop to view the lemur park and the Rova (ancient palace), get a sense of the city’s cosmopolitan atmosphere, and utilize it as a jumping off point for trips farther afield.

Overload on zebu

Zebu is a cow that has a big hump on its back. It’s a work cow, similar to an ox, that originated in Asia and may be found all throughout the country. They’ve evolved into a cultural symbol for the country, in addition to being significant for farming and food. They’re even given as wedding dowries. It’s the country’s single type of beef, and it’s always on the menu (along with healthy portions of rice).

However, due to the animals’ extensive activity in the fields, the flesh is extremely tough, therefore it’s best served in a stew or as a steak. I didn’t care for it. But it was usually either that or pasta. I’m good for the rest of my life because I ate so much zebu.

Drive the N5

This route, which runs north along the east coast from Toamasina to Maroantsetra, is a pothole-filled adventure through some of Madagascar’s most raw and beautiful locations, and your greatest chance to view the iconic aye-aye lemur. The route here winds through dense jungle, over rivers, and passes through small communities in one of the country’s least developed regions. The Route Nationale 5 (N5) is believed to be the worst road in the country, stretching 250 miles (400 kilometers). I tend to agree with you!

Here, you’re truly off the beaten road. Many areas are frequently impassable, so allow plenty of time. Outside of Toamasina, the road soon deteriorates and does not improve much as you travel. It is estimated that driving the full “road” will take more than 24 hours. I’m surprised it’s gone so fast!

Go whale watching

More than 7,000 humpback whales migrate from Antarctica to Madagascar to reproduce between June and November (they can travel up to 25,000km/15,500mi every year!). Some of the best whale watching in the world can be found here. We saw a couple breach the water while on the boat to le Sainte Marie, and it was breathtaking to see.

Adults can reach a height of 16 meters (52 feet) and weigh more than 30 tons (6,00lbs). The lesser-known (and recently discovered) Omura whale (dwarf fin whale) can also be found in Madagascar.

Most importantly, because there are so few tourists in the country, you won’t be one of the 9,384,732 boats fighting for a shot!

Enjoy the long drives and vistas

You’ll spend a lot of time in a car because the roads are so poor. As I previously stated, it takes around eight hours to travel only 250 kilometers (155 miles). On the plus side, you’ll be able to take long drives through stunning mountain and gorge views, lush jungles, and valleys lined with terraced rice terraces. I wanted to get a lot of reading done, but the vistas kept drawing me away. Madagascar was really stunning!

While I dislike long journeys, I did appreciate stopping every few minutes to take too many shots of the mountains and valleys I passed through.

There is a lot to see and do in Madagascar. Despite years of environmental degradation (which continues to be a severe problem), there are still many beautiful native plants and exotic creatures native to the world’s third largest island. Though getting to Madagascar is a long voyage, these highlights will make it a trip to remember.

What is Madagascar’s most important business?

Despite having one of the world’s worst poverty rates of 74 percent in 2019, Madagascar boasts one of the world’s greatest growth rates. GDP growth was approximately 5% in 2018 and 2019, with predictions indicating that it will be the same in 2020 and 2021. Infrastructure, mining, energy, and tourist investments, both public and private, have aided the country’s recent economic expansion. However, poverty remains widespread, particularly among the more than 60% of the population who work in agriculture. Increased economic growth in Madagascar is attracting international investors, resulting in the creation of jobs and further expansion in the growing country.

Current State of Business

Madagascar’s primary industry is agriculture. Around 80% of Malagasy people work in agriculture, and about 86 percent of them live in poverty. Furthermore, the country is primarily reliant on vanilla exports. The African country produces the most vanilla in the world. Diversifying the economy and transitioning away from agriculture could help boost development. In 2017, the Madagascar Economic Development Board assisted in reforming the business climate in order to entice foreign investors to expand in the country. This included anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts. International enterprises may find opportunity in expanding to Madagascar if the island nation’s business environment improves.

International Mining

Mining is another another source of revenue for Madagascar’s economy. Natural resources such as oil, gas, and ilmenite abound in Madagascar. More than one million people work in the mining industry in the United States. Mining also accounts over 30% of total export revenue. Ilmenite, zirsill, and monazite are prevalent in Madagascar. One of the large-scale mining firms is Rio Tinto, an Anglo-Australian company. In 2018, Malagasy made up almost 90% of Rio Tinto’s workforce. Despite the fact that mining is associated with land degradation, Rio Tinto has pledged to restore wetlands and biodiversity to their prior state once mining is completed.

Tourism Growth Resulting in Hotel Developments

Tourism continues to be a significant business in Madagascar, contributing to the country’s economic prosperity. More than 250,000 tourists visit the country each year, bringing roughly $748 million in revenue. In just one year, the tourism industry rose by 20%. Hotel development is one developing sub-category that might potentially provide opportunities for residents, especially those looking for better compensation than they get in agriculture. According to the Madagascar Economic Development Board, tourism accounts for 11% of overall employment.

Over 70% of visitors to the country stay for two weeks or longer, demonstrating the importance they place on the economy. The rising demand for hotels in Madagascar was noticed by international hotel brands. In 2019, the Radisson Hotel Group intends to open two hotels and one apartment complex in the country. All three structures are expected to open in 2020. Marriott International is planning to open hotels in a number of African nations, including Madagascar. Growth in the hotel and tourism industries could result in more jobs for Malagasy.

Clean Energy for the Future

Even more important than tourism is the energy sector. Only 15% of Madagascar’s population has access to electricity, which is a major hindrance to the country’s economic development. Because energy is one of the foundations of a modern economy, this keeps the country back. To function at their full potential, schools, hospitals, and other structures require power. As a result, Madagascar’s government set a lofty goal for itself, aiming for 70 percent energy access by 2030. The country is already on its way to achieving this goal. Groupe Filatex, the country’s largest employer, is constructing four solar power facilities with a combined capacity of 50 megawatts.

Madagascar’s total capacity was 500 MW as of 2019. To fulfill the huge demand, Groupe Filatex employs over 15,000 people and plans to hire more in the future. The country’s energy policy for 2015-2030, according to Lantoniaina Rasoloelison, Minister of Energy and Hydrocarbons, supports the transition to the energy mix for electricity and lighting. This will be made up of 80% renewable resources.

Growth Ongoing

In the last two years, international companies like as Radisson Hotel Group and Marriott International have taken notice of Madagascar’s economic progress. Tourism, mining, and energy are three of the country’s fastest-growing industries. Furthermore, the government’s goal of boosting electricity is an important step toward transforming the country into a developed economy with reduced poverty and improved livelihoods. More work in these industries could help to alleviate poverty.

What is Madagascar’s main source of revenue?

Madagascar used to be a net exporter of clothes, but today its main exports are agricultural and mineral. Graphite, chromite, shrimp, coffee, vanilla, and sugar are the main exports.

What accounts for Madagascar’s low GDP?

Despite gaining independence in 1960, Madagascar is still treated as a colony, with an economy based on resource extraction. Madagascar’s economic development has been slowed severely due to a lack of investment in sustainable sectors.

Marc Ravalomanana, Madagascar’s new president, is attempting to break free from the old system and attract foreign investment that will help the country develop sustainable business models (though resource exploitation, particularly mining, will continue to be essential in the country’s development).

Madagascar has 49,827 km of roads, of which only 5,780 km are paved, according to CIA estimates. These statistics are likely optimistic; many of Madagascar’s “paved roads” are in poor condition, with potholes and/or only wide enough for a single vehicle. Roads and bridges are frequently destroyed by cyclones and other weather events, making travel even more difficult.

In order to stimulate the Malagasy economy, new President Marc Ravalomanana has launched a significant infrastructure improvement program. This idea is likely to improve the economy, but it may come at a heavy social cost, with increasing access potentially undermining traditional Malagasy culture and spreading AIDS from cities to the rural. Madagascar currently has one of Africa’s lowest HIV/AIDS rates.

The geographical isolation of Madagascar raises the expense of trading. This seclusion isn’t all terrible; it’s one of the reasons Madagascar has so diverse wildlife and cultural customs.

Although a tiny population is not always a bad thing, it does not benefit the economy. Madagascar will continue to be underserved as a market for multinational companies due to its small (and impoverished) population. Foreign firms lack the incentive to create, transport, and market various commodities in Madagascar, which has a population of less than 20 million people.

Who is in charge of Madagascar?

The most recent presidential elections in Madagascar were held in November 2018, marking the country’s first democratic transfer of power. Andry Rajoelina was elected President of the Republic of Madagascar with 55.6 percent of the vote, governing the country alongside his Prime Minister, Christian Ntsay, and 24 ministries. President Andry Rajoelina’s political party, which won 84 of the 151 seats in the National Assembly, achieved a landslide victory in the legislative elections conducted on May 27, 2019.

The Covid-19 epidemic has had a significant impact on the country.

Outside visitors were barred from Madagascar, thereby shutting down the country’s crucial tourism sector, but not before the coronavirus had established itself. Lockdowns have been implemented as part of the public health response in a number of cities and areas, with economic ramifications.

Madagascar reaps the benefits of development assistance to a large extent.

Madagascar is a priority country for the President’s Malaria Initiative, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and biodiversity conservation. The United States is one of the top bilateral donors to Madagascar.

In Madagascar, about 150 Peace Corps volunteers work.

Madagascar has more endemic species than the all of Africa, making it one of the most environmentally unique regions in the planet.

At least 80% of Madagascar’s plant and animal species are found nowhere else on the planet. It is also the world’s poorest non-conflict country, with 92 percent of the population subsisting on less than $2 per day.

Madagascar has been suffering from a severe drought in the south of the country since 2014.

This issue has left over one million people without enough food to eat during more severe instances.

In Madagascar, the United States is the greatest supplier of food aid.

What is the capital of Madagascar?

Madagascar is an island country off the southeast coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Madagascar is made up of the island of Madagascar (the world’s fourth-largest island, with 587,041 square kilometers), as well as numerous smaller surrounding islands, the largest of which are Nosy Be and Nosy Boraha (Ile Sainte-Marie). Antananarivo is Madagascar’s capital and largest city. It is situated in the island’s hills, close to the island’s geographic center.

Madagascar’s population was projected to be around 20 million in 2010, with 85 percent of the people living on less than two dollars per day. Toliary, Antsiranana, Antsirabe, Toamasina, Mahajanga, and Fianarantsoa are also major cities, in addition to the capital Antananarivo.

A post-colonial First Republic led by President Philibert Tsiranana (19601972), a socialist Second Republic led by Admiral Didier Ratsiraka (19751991), and a democratic Third Republic led by successive presidents Albert Zafy (19921996), Didier Ratsiraka (19972002), and Marc Ravalomanana (20022009). The president is elected for a five-year term and is backed by the prime minister he or she appoints. Following rallies in the capital on March 17, 2009, President Ravalomanana transferred control over to the military, which then gave the president to opposition leader Andry Rajoelina, the mayor of Antananarivo and the demonstrations’ leader. Following a constitutional referendum and reform of the electoral code, Rajoelina named himself “President of the High Transitional Authority” and promised to arrange presidential elections by October 2010 (a promise he did not keep). The United States condemned the illegitimate and undemocratic shift of power in Madagascar in early 2009, and suspended all assistance programs that directly benefit the government, as well as any non-humanitarian assistance to Madagascar.

Madagascar is a hotspot for biodiversity. Over 80% of the plant and animal species discovered there are found nowhere else on the planet. These are found in a range of eco-regions, with the eastern and south-central rain forests, western dry forests, southern desert, and spiny forest being the most common. Human development and traditional slash-and-burn techniques (tavy) have stripped Madagascar of up to 90% of its native forest cover, putting the island’s diverse ecosystems and distinctive animals under jeopardy. The government of Madagascar cooperated with the international community to pursue large-scale conservation measures connected to ecotourism as part of the national development strategy under former President Marc Ravalomanana’s administration. However, in Madagascar’s many national parks, several of which are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, there has been a huge increase in illegal logging of rare woods and poaching and sale of threatened species such as lemurs under Rajoelina’s caretaker government.

Why is Madagascar so impoverished?

Madagascar is the world’s fifth-largest island, with a diverse range of natural resources. Despite this, Madagascar has of of the world’s highest poverty rates. Things may be improving as a result of the improving economy, but there is still more work to be done before conditions truly improve. Here are ten facts concerning Madagascar’s poverty.

Facts About Poverty in Madagascar

  • The majority of Madagascar’s population lives in abject poverty. Currently, 75% of Madagascar’s population lives on less than $1.90 per day. This means that three-quarters of Madagascar’s population of 25.6 million people live below the World Bank’s worldwide poverty level.
  • In Madagascar, children are among the most vulnerable to poverty. In Madagascar, more than 80% of those under the age of 18 live in abject poverty. Furthermore, according to UNICEF, chronic malnutrition affects nearly half of children under the age of five, with stunted growth being a serious problem.
  • Children in Madagascar are forced into child labor due to extreme poverty. Approximately 5.7 million youngsters, or roughly half of the population under the age of 18, work in some capacity. Instead of going to school, many of these kids work. One out of every four child laborers does work that could be hazardous to their health.
  • Poverty is also exacerbated by the island nation’s peculiar and isolated terrain. Climate change has harmed the country’s rural poor, who rely primarily on farming and fishing for a living. Water levels are rising, and Madagascar’s location makes it particularly vulnerable to cyclones. Drought and food insecurity are the result of these conditions in an already impoverished country.
  • Despite the fact that 80 percent of Madagascar’s population lives in rural areas, the country is now unable to support itself. Madagascar must import 15% of its basics, such as rice and milk. Slash-and-burn farming tactics, as well as over-farming, have resulted in widespread deforestation. Only 10% of Madagascar’s original rainforest has been preserved.
  • Madagascar’s economy is also harmed by its weak infrastructure. Only around 11 percent of the country’s more than 30,000 kilometers of roadways are paved. During the rainy season in the country, many of these routes become impassable. Furthermore, railroads are in poor condition, with two unconnected lines in particularly bad shape.
  • Despite its problems, Madagascar has experienced remarkable economic growth in recent years. In 2018, the economy grew by 5.1 percent, resulting in a two percent gain in per capita income. Exports, transportation, and finance are driving current economic expansion. Poverty, on the other hand, continues to fall slowly: only approximately 3% since 2012. The fact that the majority of the population works in agriculture, an industry that has not yet kept up with modern trends, is most likely to blame for the slow rate.
  • In Madagascar, water scarcity and sanitation are major issues. Only approximately half of the population of Madagascar has access to safe drinking water. Women and girls often bear the burden of the job of collecting water in places where it is scarce. Their capacity to attend school and earn money is hampered by this time-consuming and physically demanding work. 90% of households in southern Madagascar are without basic sanitation. There is a lot of open defecation, which leads to a lot of waterborne infections including diarrhea.
  • WaterAid is a non-profit organization that works to provide clean water, toilets, and appropriate hygiene to people all around the world, including those in Madagascar. In Madagascar, the organization launched its water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) plan, working with local authorities to improve conditions across the country. The National Action Plan, which was introduced in 2017, intends to eliminate growth stunting in children under the age of five by roughly 10% while also increasing access to drinking water and appropriate sanitation to 65 percent and 30% of homes, respectively.
  • SEED Madagascar is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that operates in Southeast Madagascar’s Anosy region. The group develops programs in the areas of education, community health, environmental conservation, and long-term economic viability. The people of Madagascar have recommended all of SEED’s activities. One day, kids should be able to independently construct and implement initiatives. A 20,000-liter rainwater collecting system installed on the roof of a primary school in Ambandrika provided clean water for 144 students and 750 community members in one such project. More time to make marketable goods as well as more time to care for children are two other benefits of SEED’s work.

Poverty is rampant in Madagascar, and ignoring it would not alleviate the situation. Economic growth and organizations such as SEED Madagascar and WaterAid are making significant progress, but the problem must be handled in the long run.