Madagascar is intensifying efforts to align its food systems with climate action, addressing persistent food insecurity and nutritional challenges. A recent round table convened by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock focused on coordinating technical and financial support from stakeholders to bolster food and nutritional security initiatives. The meeting, held yesterday at the Colbert Hotel, aimed to identify areas of collaboration, funding gaps, and opportunities for resource mobilization.
Bruno Raoelina, head of the Food and Nutrition Security department within the Ministry, explained the core objective: “The objective is to align the technical and financial support of all stakeholders to the activities of the food and nutritional security service. This will make it possible to identify complementarities, areas of convergence, financing gaps and opportunities for resource mobilization.” This collaborative approach underscores a growing recognition that tackling food insecurity requires a unified, multi-sectoral response.
Madagascar faces a complex interplay of challenges, including endemic poverty, rapid population growth, and significant reliance on subsistence agriculture – employing approximately 80 percent of the population. These factors are compounded by the impacts of climate change, such as frequent tropical cyclones, droughts, and flooding, which disrupt agricultural production and threaten food availability. The country’s vulnerability is further exacerbated by infrastructure deficiencies that hinder market access for farmers.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock recognizes the critical link between agriculture and nutrition. Raoelina emphasized the department’s role in promoting “nutrition-sensitive agriculture,” supporting farmers not only to achieve self-sufficiency but also to produce foods that contribute to public health. This approach acknowledges that agricultural policies can have a direct impact on dietary diversity and nutritional outcomes.
This renewed focus on food systems transformation builds upon a broader national roadmap developed by the Zero Hunger Coalition, in collaboration with national governments and researchers from Hesat2030. The roadmap, published in September 2025, presents a costed portfolio of interventions designed to achieve five interconnected outcomes: eliminating hunger and malnutrition, improving diets, enhancing smallholder livelihoods, advancing gender equality, and increasing climate resilience.
The national strategy is guided by a vision to “transform food systems and social protection for a resilient Madagascar,” adopting a humanitarian-development nexus approach. This integrated strategy recognizes that addressing immediate humanitarian needs must be coupled with long-term development initiatives to build sustainable resilience. A key component of this vision is investment in human capital, specifically at the intersection of education, health, and nutrition.
The round table participants are expected to adapt their interventions to align with the national roadmap, integrating nutritional considerations into their programs and projects. This collaborative effort aims to improve food availability through sustainable and diversified agricultural and livestock production. The goal is to support the transition to food systems that are not only productive but also inclusive, climate-resilient, and sustainable.
According to Raoelina, this will enable producers to enhance their output and potentially access markets beyond Madagascar, specifically mentioning the Indian Ocean region. This expansion of market opportunities could contribute to economic growth and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers.
To inform the development of regional action plans, the Food and Nutritional Security Service will conduct needs assessments and identify constraints faced by local stakeholders in nine regions. This localized approach will ensure that interventions are tailored to the specific challenges and opportunities within each region. The resulting regional action plans will contribute to the overall implementation of the national roadmap.
Madagascar’s commitment to food systems transformation is also reflected in its participation in international forums, such as COP30, where representatives presented the country’s integrated vision for building sustainable food systems. This vision recognizes the interconnectedness of climate, nutrition, agriculture, land, and biodiversity, and emphasizes the need for a systemic approach to address these challenges.
The country’s experience with climate shocks – including prolonged droughts, destructive floods, and increasingly frequent cyclones – has underscored the urgency of building resilience. More than 9 million Malagasy are currently affected by food insecurity, with over 1 million in acute need, and 75% of the population lacking access to nutritious food. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to strengthen food systems, improve climate adaptation, and enhance nutritional outcomes.
The current initiatives represent a significant step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Madagascar, demonstrating a renewed commitment to addressing the root causes of food insecurity and building a more resilient future for its citizens. The focus on collaboration, evidence-based planning, and localized action positions Madagascar to make meaningful progress in transforming its food systems and improving the health and well-being of its population.
