Autonomy at the heart of fishing communities in Madagascar

woman processing fish in Madagascar.

Autonomy at the heart of fishing communities in Madagascar

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In Madagascar, our teams and partners are working together to improve the incomes and living conditions of fishing families. This involves, in particular, greater social and financial independence for women. You too can help us transform lives. 

In villages that depend on fishing on the west coast of Madagascar, hundreds of inhabitants have formed cooperatives. While the men generally go out to sea, the women play a central role in the preservation, processing and packaging of fish, prawns and other shellfish.

With our support, around 100 women from cooperatives have undergone training to perfect these skills. In addition, three collection points for fishery products have been set up and equipped with solar-powered refrigerators.

A step further with literacy

These changes enable women to sell fish further afield and at better prices. To help them with these sales activities, women who wish to do so can also take literacy classes. There were 155 of them in 2024. Some also join a Solidarity Savings Group, a scheme that facilitates collective savings and access to small loans to develop an economic activity.

These actions, combined, offer women their own income and a better status in their households and communities.

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