The World Bank is increasing its investments in Madagascar. The Board of Directors of this financial institution has approved two projects totaling 600 million dollars to support growth sectors in Madagascar, namely agriculture, energy and telecommunications.
The Digital and Energy Connectivity Project (DECIM) will benefit from 400 million dollars. This project will double access to energy from 33.7% to 67% in the country and add 3.4 million internet users.
« The DECIM project will help expand the country’s access to renewable energy and digital services, with a focus on underserved communities “, specifies the World Bank in its press release. At least 10 million people will benefit from the project, including 2,000,000 households and more than 150 villages, who will have access to electricity, 3,400,000 new Internet users, while some 2,000 health centers and schools will benefit better access to renewable energy and digital connectivity.
The second project concerns the productivity and resilience of rural livelihoods to the tune of $200 million. Two regions essential to national food production, Alaotra-Mangoro and Sofia, will be targeted for this project. Overall, it will reach 150,000 rural households who will benefit from the deployment of inputs and training on climate-smart agriculture and agroecological practices. It will finance the rehabilitation of 30,000 ha of irrigated perimeters, 30,000 ha of watersheds. Nearly 150 km of rural roads will be developed to connect farmers to markets.
In February, the World Bank already approved a $250 million credit to help the government expand safety net services to more extremely poor households, strengthen the social protection system and promote greater resilience to shocks. Last week, the World Bank representative in the country said that her portfolio for Madagascar amounts to 4.1 billion dollars per year.