The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Edited News | WFP , WHO
Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Madagascar Rapid Rural Transformation initiative – WFP
Madagascar: rapid transformation initiative for rural communities provides hope for future
An innovative pilot project seeking to develop climate resilience among vulnerable rural communities in southern Madagascar could be a template for future humanitarian work, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
Focusing on remote Androy and Anosy regions, the Rapid Rural Transformation WFP and partners have established solar-powered hubs, water boreholes and internet connectivity. This has given communities essential services such as energy, water, and digital platforms, in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner, the UN agency explained.
The hub, which is managed by regional authorities, allows various partners to set up integrated community services such as training centers for women and youth on food production and business skills, as well as digital classrooms, while enhancing agricultural production through solar-powered drip irrigation and hydroponics.
“We are establishing solar-powered hubs that then provide a sustainable water source. To the site that I visited we were able to sink and drill boreholes nearby, we’ve introduced ICT (information and communications technology) in these remote areas, allowing for the provision of essential services be it energy, green energy, be it water, and digital platforms to members of the community,” said Tomson Phiri, WFP Regional Communications Lead and Spokesperson for Southern Africa.
“For me, these initiatives are a game changer," added Mr. Phiri, speaking from Antananarivo to journalists in Geneva, via Zoom. "It is the golden standard of assistance to such communities: we’ve brought connectivity, we are enhancing agricultural productivity, we are going to hone people business’ skills, we are giving opportunities to people, especially women and the youth so that they can start embarking on their own enterprises.”
Madagascar is among the 10 countries most vulnerable to disasters in the world and is considered the most cyclone-exposed country in Africa. The Androy and Anosy regions are at the sharp end of the climate crisis and have high rates of chronic malnutrition among children under five. The regions are adversely affected by extreme weather events such as cyclones, storms, and droughts.
The Rapid Rural Transformation (RRT) initiative combines two climate risk mitigation strategies to assist the people: better natural resource management through enhanced agricultural techniques to assure ongoing food production and diversifying their livelihoods to withstand climate shocks.
Working with the government, the integrated services approach helps the WFP to stimulate grassroots development, while addressing rural communities’ most pressing needs. WFP's plan is to expand the initiative to other villages and regions.
“These hubs as well are providing digital classrooms for learners, I saw young people, we are nurturing dreams there, I met people, we are even sparking artisanal enterprises," said Mr. Phiri. "I saw a welder just starting to use solar energy for his own enterprise, saw a barbershop, I saw a community that is being brought together by technology.”
Approximately 2.2 million people in the southern and south-eastern regions of Madagascar are experiencing high levels of food insecurity (IPC 3 and 4 - Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) during the pre-harvest period until April 2023. WFP works with government and partners to build effective crisis response, social protection, malnutrition prevention and resilient livelihood systems through innovative actions and approaches in the south, where the population remains highly vulnerable.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.
Ends
STORY: Madagascar Rapid Rural Transformation initiative – WFP
TRT: 2’58
SOURCE: UNTV CH
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 20 January 2023
HYBRID PRESS BRIEFING
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
Geneva and Antananarivo, Madagascar (via zoom) - Shot on 20.Jan.2023
- Exterior wide shot: UN flag alley UN Geneva.
- Cutaway: Wide shot, Press room, UN Geneva
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Tomson Phiri, WFP Regional Communications Lead and Spokesperson for Southern Africa: “We are establishing solar-powered hubs that then provide a sustainable water source. To the site that I visited we were able to sink and drill boreholes nearby, we’ve introduced ICT (information and communications technology) in these remote areas, allowing for the provision of essential services be it energy, green energy, be it water, and digital platforms to members of the community.”
- Cutaway: close shot of journalists’ hands typing
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Tomson Phiri, WFP Regional Communications Lead and Spokesperson for Southern Africa: “These hubs as well are providing digital classrooms for learners, I saw young people, we are nurturing dreams there, I met people, we are even sparking artisanal enterprises. I saw a welder just starting to use solar energy for his own enterprise, saw a barbershop, I saw a community that is being brought together by technology.”
- Cutaway: medium shot of TV screen in press conference room
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) Tomson Phiri, WFP Regional Communications Lead and Spokesperson for Southern Africa: “For me, these initiatives are a game changer. It is the golden standard of assistance to such communities: we’ve brought connectivity, we are enhancing agricultural productivity, we are going to hone people business’ skills, we are giving opportunities to people, especially women and the youth so that they can start embarking on their own enterprises.”
- Cutaway: medium shot journalists in the press conference room
B-Roll from WFP shot in Madagascar on 18th January 2023
Location: Anosy Region, Southern Madagascar
- (No Sound) Drone footage of solar-powered hub, which serves as the energy source for the Rapid Rural Transformation (RRT) Initiative, a project set up by WFP and partners which supplies essential services such as energy, water, and digital platforms to members of the community, in an environmentally sustainable manner.
- (No Sound) Drone footage of agricultural production by use of solar-powered drip irrigation and hydroponics.
- GVs of people collecting water at the sustainable drinking water source.
- WFP delegation visiting solar-powered hub.
- GVs of students in the digital classrooms making use of solar-powered ICT services.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
New UN Human Rights report finds 10 years of increased suffering repression and fear
The UN Human Rights Office on Friday published a report on the human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2014.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNICEF , UNHCR
The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Un nouveau rapport du Haut-Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la République démocratique du Congo évoque le spectre de crimes de guerre et de crimes contre l'humanité dans le Nord et le Sud-Kivu.,
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC
A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO
Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR
Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’
In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.