Emagnasoa: when legal identity paves the way for the future
In the Ampanihy district, the Zara Mira programme demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrated approach that combines social protection, access to a legal identity and strengthening the resilience of vulnerable households.
Nine-year-old Emagnasoa lives in the fokontany (village) of Sakamasay Ankilizato, in southern Madagascar, with his mother and three younger sisters. A pupil in Year 2 at his village’s state primary school, he harbours a simple yet powerful dream: to become a teacher. Yet, like thousands of Malagasy children, his future was jeopardised right from birth. Not formally declared at the civil registry, Emagnasoa did not have a birth certificate, a document that is essential for him to have full access to his rights and to continue his education beyond primary school. “Before, I was always hesitant to enrol him in school because he didn’t have a birth certificate. I wasn't sure he would ever be able to continue his studies like other children. This uncertainty held me back. That’s why he fell a little behind in his schooling,” says his mother.
Thanks to the support of the Zara Mira programme, this situation has changed. A supplementary judgment was issued by his local council, enabling Emagnasoa to finally obtain his birth certificate. This document, often seen as merely administrative, represents much more: official recognition of his existence and the key to his future. From now on, Emagnasoa will be able to sit official exams, receive his qualifications and continue his education without hindrance.
In Madagascar, although children may be admitted to school without a birth certificate, the absence of this document prevents them from sitting official exams. By facilitating the issuance of supplementary court rulings in its areas of intervention, the Zara Mira programme takes direct action to guarantee the right to identity and break a cycle of silent exclusion. Today, confident and looking to the future, Emagnasoa can pursue his dream with confidence: to become a teacher himself and contribute to the development of his community. “When I grow up, I want to be a teacher. I’d like to teach children good manners, share what I know with them and pass on my knowledge,” says Emagnasoa.
“When I grow up, I want to be a teacher. I’d like to teach children good manners, share what I know with them and pass on my knowledge”
Thanks to support from BMZ via KfW Development Bank and from the Irish Government through Irish Aid, 14,646 children have already received their birth certificates in the district of Ampanihy, particularly in the communes of Ankilizato, Maniry, Ankilimivory and Itampolo. Every certificate issued represents a life recognised, potential unlocked and another step towards a generation of children who are fully protected and independent.
At the same time, Emagnasoa and his three sisters receive a monthly cash allowance of 10,000 ariary (approximately USD 2.30) per child, also as part of this programme. Since March 2024, this support has enabled their parents to cover school fees, school supplies and the household’s basic needs.
In the district of Ampanihy, Zara Mira currently supports more than 14,000 households, including 40,600 children aged 0 to 15 and 600 pregnant women. Designed as a universal allowance programme for children and people with disabilities, each beneficiary receives 10,000 Ariary per month. Implemented in four municipalities — Ankilizato, Maniry, Ankilimivory and Itampolo — and scheduled to run for three years, the programme combines financial assistance with support measures to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable households and promote the fundamental rights of children.
