Official launch of the “FAGNAVOTSE” social protection programme in Amboasary Atsimo

Antanandava-Amboasary, November 06, 2020: Official launch of the "FAGNAVOTSE" joint integrated and inclusive social protection programme by the Malagasy Government, with the technical and financial support of the United Nations. The Malagasy Government, represented by the Ministry of Population, of Social Protection and the Promotion of Women (MPPSPF) has developed its National Strategy for Social Protection (SNPS) for the period 2019-2023.

The SNPS aims to ensure that social protection contributes effectively to reducing extreme poverty, promoting investments for the development of human capital and household livelihoods and contributing to households’ progressive empowerment over the long term. With a total budget of around USD 4,000,000, the programme is, on the one hand, financed by SDG Fund 1 and, on the other hand, provided with the technical and financial support from four United Nations agencies: UNICEF (coordination agency), WFP, ILO and UNFPA. Three other agencies are collaborating on this project through their technical support: OHCHR, FAO and WHO.

The FAGNAVOTSE joint programme will be implemented in three communes of the pilot district of Amboasary Atsimo: Behara, Tanandava and Ifotaka; it is under the leadership of the MPPSPF, and under the coordination of the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Madagascar.

FAGNAVOTSE is structured around four operational components linked to different areas of focus of the SNPS and an administrative component aimed at putting in place common tools for various programmes in order to develop a coherent and integrated social protection system.

The Minister of Population, Mrs. Angelica Michelle, in her speech thanked the United Nations system for its support through its various agencies and reassured the population that the Government is listening to the people in the South. The ILO Representative, Mr. Coffi Agossou, in turn, delivered a speech on behalf of the United Nations System in Madagascar and stressed that the United Nations remains at the side of the Malagasy population and supports the efforts of the State and the Government in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

THE FIVE AREAS OF INTERVENTION:

- Component 1 with the technical and financial support from UNICEF: cash transfers;

- Component 2 with the technical and financial support from ILO and WHO: improvement of access to basic social services and contributory scheme, universal health coverage

- Component 3 with the technical and financial support from WFP: strengthening of livelihoods

• Agricultural and climate risk insurance component;

• Enhancing production and access to markets.

- Component 4 with the technical and financial support from UNFPA: access to basic social services for the most vulnerable households and access to specialized services for specific vulnerable groups:

• Psychosocial support;

• Protection of the rights of people with disabilities;

• Fight against GBV and support for victims.

- Component 5 with the technical and financial support from UNICEF:

• Implementation of common tools;

• Establishment of a single and harmonized registration facility;

• Support for the MPPSPF in making the social register operational in the district of Amboasary;

• Establishment of a referral system / one-stop-shop system