Madagascar

In 2021, in Madagascar, the Fund has concentrated on improving security and promoting the socioeconomic autonomy and voice of young people and women in marginalized communities. In Betroka, a reduction in livestock theft and other crime has improved community perceptions of security following a $3.5 million initiative of UNDP, IOM and UNFPA. Paired with income-generation assistance provided to more than 6,700 households and initiatives to improve access to justice and improve civil-military relations, the project has reduced vulnerability that leads to grievances. On the outskirts of Antananarivo, 316 young people have begun to develop business plans with guidance from 13 training centres, while other young people have joined local committees and are leading awareness-raising campaigns to encourage youth employment. In the northern regions of Diana and Sava, dialogue and early warning initiatives that are part of a $1.5 million project of the International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF and UNFPA have reduced vanilla crop theft by 50 per cent, improving community perceptions of security and increasing youth participation in social dialogue and local peace initiatives. To address corruption that fosters criminality, a $2 million effort of UNDP, OHCHR and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has enabled the Independent Anti-Corruption Bureau to open two new regional hubs to curb natural resources smuggling and other crimes, while a third hub will open in early 2022.