Rehabilitation / Construction of Primary Schools in Response to Cyclones in Madagascar

To ensure the urgent continuity of education for students deprived of classes and to strengthen the resilience of local communities affected by Cyclone Batsirai through the reconstruction of destroyed infrastructures.

Summary

In response to the adverse effects of the passage of the violent cyclone Batsiraï in Madagascar in 2022, the ILO, with funding from Norway, contributed to the construction and rehabilitation of destroyed schools in the Atsimo Atsinanana and Fitovinany Regions, while adopting the EIIP approach.

The project constitutes an urgent, concrete and sustainable response to the impacts of the cyclone, as the actions carried out have generated positive, immediate effects that impact the lives of the affected population while leaving lasting school infrastructures.

In terms of results, in relation to its objectives, the project has firstly allowed to respond to the immediate needs of 2,200 students to return to school through the construction of 40 classrooms in 20 schools, the delivery of 1,000 tables and benches, as well as tables and chairs for teachers, and the training of 340 beneficiaries in the maintenance of the infrastructure; secondly, it has created 351 direct jobs; and thirdly, it has had a catalytic effect on the growth of the country’s economic and social development resources mobilized for the emergency reconstruction of schools affected by climate hazards.

Context of the project:

In February 2022, Madagascar experienced the strongest tropical cyclone of the decade. Qualified as an Intense Tropical Cyclone, Cyclone Batsiraï hit Madagascar on February 5 and 6, 2022, in its southern part, causing a large-scale natural and humanitarian disaster. Following this situation, the National Office of Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) released an official report stating that 121 people died, 143,718 people affected (30,123 households), 21,922 displaced persons (4,921 households) in 79 shelter sites, 8,820 huts destroyed 4,654 damaged huts and 7,098 flooded huts. With the passage of Cyclone Emnati on February 22 and 23, less than two weeks after the passage of Batsirai, the Education Sector Group at the sectoral meeting on March 30, 2022 reported a total of 6,954 classrooms completely destroyed (all levels combined), 2,706 classrooms partially destroyed, especially at the roof level, 37 administrative buildings destroyed; this means that 423,866 pupils in the primary cycles are deprived of classes. The extent of the damage has put the education sector in an unprecedented situation of precariousness and threatens to destroy the efforts made for several years in Madagascar. Out of the 23 regions of Madagascar, 15 regions have been severely affected.

The Covid-19 pandemic has worsened this situation because the impacts of the crisis are making formal jobs more precarious and informal jobs even more precarious.

To respond to the devastating effects of the cyclone on school infrastructure, whose inadequacy negatively impacts children’s education and worsens the situation of youth employment, the ILO, with funding from Norway, is contributing to the construction and rehabilitation of destroyed schools by adopting the EIIP approach.

Objectives:

The objective of this project is to ensure the urgent continuity of education for students deprived of classes and to strengthen the resilience of local communities affected by Cyclone Batsirai, through the reconstruction and rehabilitation of destroyed school infrastructure.

Specifically, it will:

•  Respond to the immediate needs of returning 2,200 students to school through the reconstruction and rehabilitation of school infrastructure destroyed or damaged by the passage of Cyclone Batsiraï in Madagascar according to the model plan of anti-cyclone school building adopted in 2014 in CCC and updated in 2020, and in accordance with the priorities dictated by the school map of the Ministry of National Education ;
• Create decent employment opportunities for the populations of the areas affected by the cyclone.
• Create a catalytic effect to increase the resources mobilized and broaden the resource channels by exploring alternative sources of funding for the emergency reconstruction of schools affected by climate hazards.

Activities and results:

During the project period, the following results were achieved:

• 40 classrooms constructed in 20 schools
• 1,000 tables and benches provided
• 40 tables and 40 chairs for teachers provided
• 20 parents’ associations (FEFFI - FRAM), with maintenance committees, formed
• 340 beneficiaries trained in infrastructure management and maintenance techniques (members of FEFFI - FRAM executive offices and maintenance committees)
• 3,000,000 MGA of funds collected for the maintenance of the infrastructures built
• 351 jobs created

In terms of participating works and environmental protection :

• 5,293 meters of hedge fencing of school estates
• 593 fruit trees planted

In response to the adverse effects of the passage of the violent cyclone Batsiraï in Madagascar in 2022, the ILO, with funding from Norway, contributed to the construction and rehabilitation of destroyed schools in the Atsimo Atsinanana and Fitovinany Regions, while adopting the EIIP approach.