[NA]

    The Republic of Madagascar-CMG1158: Lake Alatra watershed protection and development project

    The project’s ambition is set a standard for a new rural development approach to be applied to all of Lake Alaotra:  this holistic approach takes into account all problems faced by watersheds by including all gradient levels (both high and low-lying areas) and by developing diverse yet complementary activities that are promoted by a participative approach. 

    The goals of the project are to (i) increase producers’ incomes, (ii) preserve the environment of a very fragile ecological area and make existing upstream irrigation investments safer and (iii) provide producers with the ability to organize that will allow them to gradually become development decision makers. 

    The project is doubly original: it is able to rapidly commence concrete operations based on the experience accumulated during earlier projects, and it has at its disposal an innovative technological “package” that can be disseminated directly, making it possible to reconcile watershed protection (reducing erosion and improving the fertility of cover plants) needs and the need to increase production.  The actions in the upper parts of the watershed contribute decisively to making downstream irrigation infrastructures safer and more sustainable, and reducing maintenance costs.

    The project is active in three areas of Lake Alaotra covering 30,000 hectares, 4,000 of which are irrigated.  It promotes coordinated actions in several key areas such as the development of agriculture based on agro-ecological techniques, support for animal breeding, reforestation, the development of irrigation infrastructures and land safety.  These actions are conducted in ways that are adapted to the characteristics of the different intervention zones. 

    Currently in its last year of operation, the project’s accomplishments  have provided the foundation for setting up a national watershed/irrigation schemen program co-financed by Madagascar’s main donors (the European Union, the World Bank and the AFD, in particular). 

    Overall project cost:  8.4 million euros
    The AFD's financing:  6.77 million euros