History
From 1962 through 1996, Catholic Relief Services Madagascar primarily distributed food donations from the U.S. government to improve infant and maternal nutrition with 15 dioceses. To respond to high levels of malnutrition, CRS provided training to mothers of malnourished children to avoid dependence on assistance.
Later, in order to help make our work more sustainable, CRS Madagascar helped stabilize food production and accessibility, which included general relief, disaster assistance, and materials and training in improved agricultural production techniques in eight dioceses.
In 2003, CRS Madagascar redefined its five-year strategy to focus on food availability; disaster and risk management; HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases; and justice, peace and solidarity. In 2010, the five-year strategy was again updated to focus more broadly on agriculture, resource management, resilience following disasters, health and peacebuilding.
Partners
U.S. Agency for International Development/Food for Peace
Development and Peace and Manos Unidas
Organe de Dévelopment du Diocè de Toamasina (ODDIT)
After 10 years of collaboration, one of Catholic Relief Services Madagascar's implementing partners, Organe de Dévelopment du Diocè de Toamasina (ODDIT) built its grants management skills to a level that allows them to receive funding directly from donors without assistance from CRS Madagascar. This demonstrates the long-term sustainability of projects in Madagascar. CRS continues to work with ODDIT on health and nutrition activities in the Diocese of Toamasina and provides emergency assistance in the aftermath of the frequent storm disasters that hit large swaths of the country.
Programs
Agriculture
Catholic Relief Services coordinates with public and private agricultural institutions to assure the promotion of effective agricultural practices and technologies, using approaches that empower people to be responsible for their own development. Projects promote small-scale irrigation systems that expand the area of cultivated land.
Civil Society and Governance
Catholic Relief Services Madagascar's civil society and governance initiatives revolve around encouraging government structures to practice transparency in public affairs and integrate the needs of vulnerable populations into their priorities. CRS-sponsored initiatives also seek to engage citizens in decision-making and implementation of public policies. A cross-cutting theme in these approaches is the reinforcement and strengthening of civil society organizations.
Education
The promotion of informal education and learning is a cross-cutting theme in all of Catholic Relief Services Madagascar's programming initiatives. This learning includes functional literacy training, environmental education and civic education, among other areas.
Disaster Response
Catholic Relief Services Madagascar has extensive experience with disaster response programming as Madagascar is regularly affected by cyclones and droughts, among other emergencies. Aiming to increase household resilience to disasters and shocks, strategies include improving early warning systems, supporting communities in preparing for and mitigating disasters, supporting response and rehabilitation activities for disaster-stricken families with special consideration for the needs of women and children, and reinforcing collaboration and coordination with government entities and other key partners.
Health
Catholic Relief Services Madagascar's health initiatives focus on promoting preventative health and nutrition behaviors as well as strengthening community health services. Within all its health programming, CRS Madagascar strives to align its strategies and activities with national frameworks and contribute to the coordination of national health initiatives.
HIV and AIDS
Despite of Madagascar's low prevalence of HIV of less than 1 percent, HIV prevention is an integral part of CRS Madagascar's health program. HIV prevention strategies include promoting behavioral change, teaching life skills and health education to students, supporting improvements to the quality of care provided at health centers (including preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV), and assisting people with HIV and other transmittable diseases.
Microfinance
Within its livelihoods program, Catholic Relief Services Madagascar aims to introduce and promote savings and lending communities also known as "village banking" to increase access to microfinance services, particularly for women.
Peacebuilding
Catholic Relief Services approaches peacebuilding in Madagascar by working to increase the competency of Catholic leaders at all levels to respond to peace and justice issues and to improve people's ability to strengthen community ties, particularly those of women and youth.
Safety Net
Catholic Relief Services Madagascar targets vulnerable populations that seek assistance from social protection centers in its programming.
Water and Sanitation
Water and sanitation is a component within Catholic Relief Services Madagascar's larger health program. The focus of the water and sanitation strategy is to promote appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene behaviors, including the development of infrastructure to support multiple uses of water for domestic, livestock and livelihoods needs.
Other
Given Madagascar's delicate and unique ecosystem, Catholic Relief Services supports environmental education programs and encourages communities to adopt improved and sustainable natural resource management and climate change adaptation practices.
