USAID's Strategy in Madagascar

Madagascar is emerging from a prolonged political dispute over the outcome of a December 2001 presidential election. This political crisis devastated the economy, further strained one of the world's top three "biodiversity hotspots," and disrupted an already weak health care system. Even before the crisis, 70 percent of Madagascar's population lived below the poverty line. A recent USAID survey indicated that the political crisis further worsened people's well being. In addition, during the eight-month crisis, illegal exporting of endangered species occurred. Such actions threaten long-term prospects for sustainable development in Madagascar, given the uniqueness of Madagascar's flora and fauna.

With the political crisis resolved, Madagascar's prospects are now brighter than they have been for some time. Madagascar's new president favors reform, free-markets, and an open society and is committed to better governance and reducing the pervasive corruption that has plagued Madagascar since its independence. While the economy has suffered in the short-term, it continues to have considerable, untapped potential.

The top three U.S. foreign policy objectives with respect to Madagascar are broad-based economic development, environmental protection and promotion of democracy.

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