Independent Evaluation Finds a Promising Foundation for Increased Security and Resilience in Madagascar’s Great South
11 April?2023?
A recently completed peacebuilding initiative implemented by UNDP, IOM and UNFPA and financed by the PBF provided holistic support to communities in Madagascar’s Great South by addressing some of the underlying factors contributing to instability.
Caption:?Since 2017, the Malagasy Government and the United Nations have been working together with a shared commitment to respond to the sources of tension and improve security and resilience for vulnerable communities.
An independent evaluation?found evidence of positive change supported by the project, specifically in reducing organized crime and promoting more inclusive community planning. An overwhelming majority of people, more than 94 per cent, as well as local administration officials interviewed in a survey during the evaluation agreed that the security situation improved in their localities. Furthermore, around 83 per cent of the population?(with an almost equal distribution between men and women) reported feeling safe when going to the market, compared to only 54 per cent?before the project began in the Great South region.
Living in the isolated region of the Great South, the Malagasy face numerous challenges. Frequent natural disasters and weak institutional presence have led to poverty and instability, which in turn exacerbate organized crime. The Dahalo bandits, who steal cattle including the iconic Zebu cattle from rural communities, are a particularly significant threat. Their criminal activities devastate livelihoods and increase tensions due to the impunity with which they operate.?
Since 2017, the Malagasy Government and the United Nations have been working together with a shared commitment to respond to the sources of tension and improve security and resilience for vulnerable communities. These efforts are focused on the town of Betroka and nearby municipalities, with financing from the Peacebuilding Fund. To date, the Fund has invested $10 million in various peacebuilding initiatives in the region, with projects implemented by 缅北禁地agencies including UNFPA, UNDP, IOM, FAO, UNCDF and UNESCO in partnership with authorities and civil society organizations. These investments have enabled the establishment of a joint United Nations office in Betroka, marking the first-ever international presence in the area. The office provides a vital platform for supporting efforts to foster social harmony and security in this often-neglected region.
Caption:?To date, the PBF?has invested $10 million in various peacebuilding initiatives in the region, with projects implemented by 缅北禁地agencies including UNFPA, UNDP, IOM, FAO, UNCDF and UNESCO in partnership with authorities and civil society organizations.
To address critical gaps in security needs in the region, the peacebuilding project worked closely with the government to strengthen the presence of gendarmerie security bases by setting up additional posts in strategic locations, providing greater coverage. Eleven gendarmerie outposts were constructed and equipped in areas of high insecurity, including five through this project by IOM. These security posts were equipped with much-needed technology, such as drones, motorized boats and motorcycles, to effectively monitor organized banditry and other criminal activities in vast and remote areas.
The project also supported a series of activities to improve relationships and trust between the gendarmes and the local communities they serve. This involved better information sharing, participation in peace rituals, and cultural and sporting events that brought young people together with the gendarmerie, fostering greater understanding and encouraging collaboration between them. In addition, a campaign against sexual and gender-based violence led by the gendarmerie and implemented by UNFPA drew 10,000 participants, with women comprising 60 percent of the attendees, highlighting their shared commitment to ending this pervasive problem.
The evaluation report underscored the significance of the project’s specific focus on empowering the voices of women and young people in communities where they previously had little space due to historical and cultural factors. Activities such as mentoring, coaching, inter-generational dialogues, and valuing young people’s cultural and sporting talents as a means of self-expression and dialogue helped change the perceptions of the communities regarding women and young people. As a result, women are now playing a more active role in their communities as agents of change and progress, participating in the design of projects that address their community’s needs.
Caption: Since 2017, the Malagasy Government and the United Nations have been working together with a shared commitment to respond to the sources of tension and improve security and resilience for vulnerable communities. Photo: ? PBF?Madagascar
Economic opportunities were created for those who were most in need – like young people and vulnerable groups who often face poverty and exclusion, which can lead to increased social tensions. These activities were carefully chosen to address the critical needs of the communities and improve their access to markets and agriculture. UNDP organized community-led income generation activities such as cleaning of irrigation canals and the rehabilitation of rural roads that provided additional income to more than 6,900 people including 2,500 women. This took place during a particularly difficult time after the devastating drought in 2021, which pushed many people to the brink of absolute poverty and increased tensions within communities.
Moreover, the project actively supported the delivery of local services in isolated areas where state services were not always available, exacerbating conflict. Mobile legal clinics provided critical information, awareness and legal advice, processing over 5,000 cases of disputes within communities. Efforts to improve administrative presence made it possible for people to obtain essential documents like birth certificates and other key administrative services.
The project also focused on promoting more inclusive local planning as a critical step towards strengthening the social contract between the state and the communities. Through a series of facilitated dialogue platforms supported by UNDP, the municipalities developed peace plans that reflected the needs and aspirations of the communities.
The establishment of local consultation committees paved the way for more inclusive and collaborative governance by ensuring that one-third of the members are women and one-third are young people. These committees, along with the joint development of the peace plans, have enabled people to discuss, identify and prioritize their most pressing needs, while also fostering better communication with government officials. Due to this, the project was able to support some of the priorities from the peace plans, which led to positive results. For instance, based on suggestion from residents, the project installed 200 streetlights in town centers of Kelivaho, Marotsiraka, Betroka and Isoanala communes, which helped improve security in these areas.