Madagascar - Mid-West Nascent Rural Businesses Project

The Mid-West Nascent Rural Enterprises Project (PROJERMO), located in the Bongolava and Amoron'i Mania regions of Madagascar, has been identified as a major operation for reducing the country's food insecurity and fragility. The PROJERMO focuses on the establishment of young rural enterprises in the fields of activities and trades related to the production, processing, marketing of agricultural products and the development and maintenance of hydro-agricultural infrastructure, areas in which the Bank has a long experience. In concrete terms, the planned interventions should enable (i) the installation of 500 young rural enterprises, 40% of which will be women's enterprises, in occupations covering the entire agricultural value chain (production, processing and marketing of agricultural products) as well as (ii) the irrigated development of 2171 ha of lowlands for the benefit of indigenous people. The project will be executed over 6 years at a total cost of UA 27.581 million excluding taxes and customs. Its implementation will contribute to improving food security, reducing the precariousness of youth jobs in Madagascar, strengthening inclusion for women, boosting the local and regional economy in the perspective of develop growth poles while taking into account the main factors of fragility at national and local level.