Scientific Excellence Rewarded

The Madagascar Challenge Fund awards grants to nine Malagasy research teams committed to combating extreme poverty.

These projects produce concrete analyses and data to help policymakers develop policies and programs tailored to the needs of vulnerable communities.

Launched in partnership with the NGO ARAKE, the fund received 106 applications in May 2025, from which nine projects were selected. The themes addressed include climate change, mining, sericulture, soil health, internal migration, and community resilience.

Among the projects, the Mitsilo laboratory is testing how access to credit and agricultural training can encourage climate-smart agriculture and limit unsustainable practices. The Center for Studies and Research in Health Economics (CERES) analyzes conflicts in mining areas and proposes solutions to protect communities and promote responsible mining practices.

The FAFIALA Center is reviving sericulture with adapted local strains to stabilize the incomes of rural households. The Institute of Political Studies of Madagascar (IEP) is studying the links between migration, mining, and rural poverty. Other projects focus on the vulnerability of women and youth, improving agricultural practices, the marginalization of poor urban neighborhoods, and the role of artisanal gold mining in local development.

For Professor Jonah Ratsimbazafy, a member of the national steering committee, this research demonstrates that conservation and the fight against poverty go hand in hand. “These researchers are protecting biodiversity while supporting food security and the livelihoods of the most vulnerable populations,” he emphasizes.

For Fenosoa Andrianjakarivola, Director of ARAKE, this project values local knowledge and Malagasy solutions, adapted to the national context and based on reliable evidence. It should be noted that the DEEP Challenge Fund, which is also active in Tanzania, Ethiopia and soon in Bangladesh, supports projects that transform data into concrete actions, for a lasting impact on poverty, resilience and inclusive development.