435,000 beneficiaries targeted by the initiative

A project has just been launched in the Great South of Madagascar with a budget of USD 3.5 million, financed by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund.

This initiative aims to reduce conflict and violence caused by climate change in the Atsimo Andrefana and Androy regions, according to a press release published by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development on July 17, 2025. This operation, which will last 36 months, is led by the Malagasy government and the United Nations system. It will be implemented by UNICEF, IOM, and UNESCO.

This initiative targets approximately 435,000 people, with a particular focus on women and youth. In the Great South, the scarcity of natural resources is a real problem. This situation is the cause of 62% of local conflicts. Madagascar has also experienced 45 cyclones, 18 floods and 7 droughts in 20 years, which makes the situation even more difficult, the source added.

The initiative aims to establish ways for communities to live better together, manage their resources fairly, and avoid violence. It is the first initiative in the world to link climate-related security with peacebuilding. According to an official at the Ministry of the Environment, “This initiative is a great opportunity for the Global South. This initiative provides concrete solutions to help populations better cope with climate change and conflict. This initiative could also serve as an example for other regions around the world facing the same problems.”