Madagascar: Program “Rano Madio”

In Madagascar, more than 16 million people do not have access to clean water (usaid.gov, 2022). In most cases, the waterborne diseases that result from this affect children. Thus, their health and schooling are jeopardized.

Since the pilot phase of the “Rano Madio” (clear water in Malagasy) project in 2016, 28 schools and 6,700 students now have access to clean water thanks to the implementation of a rainwater harvesting and chlorination system. Children have been educated on the importance of hygiene and hand washing to prevent water-related diseases.

The project has been successful, as the prevalence of diarrhea cases reported in health centers has decreased by 58% between 2018 and 2021 for children aged 1 to 14 years.

In 2022, the “Rano Madio for All” project was expanded to 24 additional schools (6,300 students) bringing the total to 13,000 students in 52 schools by the end of 2024. It also aims to provide safe drinking water to the entire community of St. Mary’s Island through collaborations with water supply companies.