Context
Madagascar has a great wealth of natural resources and enormous biological diversity. These resources have been increasingly threatened by decades of destructive exploitation, leading to depletion and to further subsequent damage, such as soil erosion and the loss of arable land. This mainly affects the rural population, whose livelihood depends on nature remaining intact. The weak position of the stakeholders and the inadequacy of legislation and its enforcement are hampering resolution of the problems.
Objective
The sustainable management of natural resources by non-governmental, civil society and private stakeholders in the environmental and domestic energy sectors has improved in selected regions of Madagascar.
Approach
The environmental programme is being implemented jointly by GIZ and KfW. Following the political crisis in the country, cooperation with the ministries was halted. The programme was modified as a result, with advisory services to the government on sector-specific policies being put on hold. GIZ currently supports the following components of this programme:
Fostering political dialogue at the national level on policy-making and effective cooperation between government, the private sector and civil society in the environmental sector. Advisory services are being provided to non-governmental stakeholders from the forestry and environmental sector, including civil society groupings, associations and the private sector. The intention is to strengthen their capacity to contribute to better formulated and better implemented policies for the sustainable use of natural resources.
Decentralised management and governance of natural resources. The expertise and resources of municipalities and non-governmental stakeholders with respect to the sustainable management of local natural resources are being developed with the support of advisory services from GIZ. Land use plans that serve as frames of reference for the use of natural resources are being drawn up. Resource-conserving energy technologies such as kilns and cooking stoves are being introduced, and techniques and approaches promoting sustainable agriculture in the context of climate change are being applied. Potential options are being identified to enable municipalities to increase their revenues from the environmental sector and to generate higher income for the local population from the sustainable use of biological resources.
Rural electrification through renewable energies. In January 2013, a previously independent project promoting rural electrification through renewable energies (PERER) was integrated into the environmental programme. The progress made so far is being consolidated through advisory services, training, financing of project studies and local subsidies. At ADER, the agency responsible for promoting rural electrification, efforts are under way to improve performance in planning and implementing micro hydropower projects.
GIZ has commissioned the company Eco Consult from Oberaula, Germany, with developing the value chain for energy from wood and for promoting rural electrification through renewable energies.
Results achieved so far
GIZ has developed a concept of individual reforestation which has already proved effective in practice. The rural people involved receive ownership and usage rights to the reforested areas. These ‘energy forests’ help ensure that the charcoal used in cities increasingly derives from sustainable production. In all, more than 7,000 hectares have been reforested, from which more than 1000 families gain a permanent income. The approach is in demand among governmental and non-governmental actors and is being applied elsewhere.
The strengthening of civil society actors is showing positive effects. They are promoting environment-related topics in the media and are organising and guiding nationwide discussion of these. They also take part successfully in international negotiations and are involved in the implementation of environment-related conventions in the country.
The involvement of municipalities and rural populations in managing natural resources is having the intended effect at local level: natural resources are being protected and used in a sustainable manner and local people, including women, are taking greater responsibility and are participating more. Transparency has been improved, and the rights of the municipalities and their citizens are being taken into account to a greater degree.
Through the efforts of civil society, a number of topics, particularly wood energy, are now being discussed at the regional and national level as well. The supporting of platforms for civil society at regional and national level is proving particularly effective. These monitor government activities closely in the environmental area, draw media attention to deficits by voicing criticism, and demand change.
The introduction of planning software and the carrying out of feasibility studies for micro hydropower plants enabled the Agency for Promoting Rural Electrification (ADER) to improve its planning processes. Three micro hydropower plants cofinanced by GIZ will give 17,000 people access to electricity.