Strengthening climate resilience through new strategic partnership in Madagascar

By Caren Mialy Ramanantoanina, Communication and Humanitarian Diplomacy Officer, IFRC Indian Ocean Islands Cluster Delegation, Antananarivo

On the front line of the climate crisis, Madagascar is experiencing increasingly frequent and intense extreme weather, exacerbating food insecurity, coastal erosion, and the loss of biodiversity.

Despite contributing minimally to global emissions of greenhouse gases, the country remains one of the most vulnerable and least prepared to cope with climate change.

In response, the IFRC has launched an advocacy effort to integrate sustainable and inclusive solutions into risk management and adaptation strategies, as part of its strategic ambition to strengthen climate action worldwide.

This momentum was reinforced last year by IFRC Secretary General Jagan Chapagain during his visit to Madagascar, where he stressed the urgent need for stronger cooperation between humanitarian and environmental actors to address the country’s climate challenges.

This commitment took a significant step forward last Wednesday with the signing of a five-year tripartite agreement by the IFRC Head of Delegation for the Western Indian Ocean Islands Cluster, Maria Martinez, the Malagasy Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Max Fontaine, and Malagasy Red Cross First Vice-President ALY Rivoarimalala Arlin.

The renewable partnership aims to accelerate the implementation of Madagascar’s National Adaptation Plan (PNA) by translating it into concrete, community-driven action.

The Malagasy Red Cross will ensure interventions are locally relevant, community-led, and directly benefit at-risk populations

Key priorities include: institutional support and technical capacity building for climate adaptation; ensuring the PNA is tailored to community needs; reforestation to restore degraded ecosystems; environmental education; sustainable management of natural resources to strengthen resilience; and the integration of nature-based solutions with local policy and risk management.

By linking climate adaptation to disaster risk reduction, this agreement represents a major step to better protection for the most vulnerable people.

With its deep-rooted presence in communities, the Malagasy Red Cross will play a key role in implementing the agreement, ensuring that interventions are locally relevant, community-led, and directly benefit at-risk populations.

This partnership marks a unique opportunity to combine expertise, resources and long-term commitment to tackling Madagascar’s climate challenges. It reflects a clear conviction that the climate crisis demands immediate action, and above all embodies a sustained vision for a more resilient future.

The IFRC will mobilize international support and align efforts with the broader commitments of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Last week’s agreement is signed by (left to right) IFRC Head of Delegation for the Western Indian Ocean Islands Cluster, Maria Martinez, the Malagasy Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Max Fontaine, and Malagasy Red Cross First Vice-President Aly Rivoarimalala Arlin. (Photo: MRC)