Madagascar is the 46th largest country and 4th largest island, with a population of over 20 million people. It has faced political upheaval and coups since gaining independence in 1960. The document analyzes Madagascar's progress on the UN's Millennium Development Goals and proposes increasing funding to charities like UNICEF, WaterAid, AOM, and HELP Madagascar that are directly involved in improving education, health, sanitation, and relief efforts, rather than relying on potentially corrupt politicians.

1. Let’s fix
By Bert Brogden

2. Location

3. Geography
46th largest country
4th largest island
Highlands, including
large valleys and hills
Highest peak:
Maromokotro (9,436 ft)

4. Government
Semi-presidential
representative
democratic multi-party
republic
Frequent coups since
Madagascar gained
independence in 1960
Large political upheaval
in 2009

5. People (1/2)
20,653,556 people
63.63 years life
expectancy
Nationality:
“Malagasy”
68.9% literacy rate

6. People (2/2)
ETHNIC GROUPS:
Malayo-Indonesian,
Cotiers, French,
Indian, Creole,
Comoran
RELIGIONS:
Indigenous beliefs
(52%), Christianity
(41%), Islam (7%)
Official languages are

7. Economy
Agriculture is crucial to
the economy (more
than 25% of GDP)
Currently being cut off
from foreign aid due to
travesties occurring in
the 2009 coup
2009 coup has dealt
serious economic blow

8. Infrastructure
Above-average
telephone system for
the region
State-owned TV and
radio with extensive
reach
65,663 km of road
4 main seaports
84 airports

9. Military
People’s Armed
Forces: Intervention
Force, Development
Force, and Aeronaval
Force
18-25 year old
eligibility, no draft
1% of GDP spent on
military

10. National Issues
Several human rights
violations in the political
tension of the 2009
coup
Deforestation
Soil degradation
Introduction of alien
species
Overhunting

11. Transnational Issues
Madagascar has faced
criticism by major
countries of aid (US,
EU) as a result of the
2009 political coup
Illicit producer of
cannabis
Transshipment point for
heroin

12. Madagascar
and the
UN Millennium
Development Goals

13. GOAL I: ERADICATE POVERTY
AND HUNGER
Poverty has risen, not fallen, since instatement of goals
Malnourishment has risen, not fallen, since instatement of
goals

14. GOAL II: ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL
PRIMARY EDUCATION
Primary school completion rate has risen from 33.3% in
1991 to 45.3% in 2004
A higher percentage of girls (46%) graduate than boys
(44.6%)

15. GOAL III: PROMOTE GENDER
EQUALITY AND EMPOWER
As of 2006, there are 160 men and 11 women in
parliament

16. GOAL IV: REDUCE INFANT
MORTALITY
76 out of 1000 children die in infancy
123 out of 1000 children die before the age of five

17. GOAL V: IMPROVE MATERNAL
HEALTH
550 out of 100,000 mothers die during childbirth.

18. GOAL VI: COMBAT HIV/AIDS,
MALARIA AND OTHER DISEASES
2900 AIDS deaths in 2005
.5% of population living with AIDS
20% of children sleep with insecticide-treated bed nets

19. GOAL VII: ENSURE
ENVIRONMENTAL
Carbon emissions at .133 metric tons per capita (down
from 2002)
Only approximately 2.59% of the land is considered to be
“protected.”

20. GOAL VIII: DEVELOP A GLOBAL
PARTNERSHIP FOR
$1,900,000,000 in debt relief committed under Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries initiative
316100 internet users

21. Solution:

22. Rather than placing US AID in the
hands of potentially corrupt coup
politicians, the United States
Federal Government should
significantly increase its contribution
to charities directly involved in the
improvement of the country of
Madagascar.

23. UNICEF
Already involved in
improving education,
public health, and
disaster relief within
the region of
Madagascar.
Innovative ideas such
as the “school in a
box” help to spread
education.

24. WaterAid
Already made
significant attempts
to broaden
sanitation goals
Aids in water
cleanliness, which
also helps with
public health and
morale

25. AOM
Stands for “Aid to
Orphans of
Madagascar”
Small size
Helps the
functionality of
orphaned children
by maintaining
orphanages and
providing food

26. HELP Madagascar
Provides
assistance to
citizens in poverty
Funds education
Vocational training
for women
Emergency relief

27. Progress on MDGs
Extreme poverty and hunger—ALL
Primary education—UNICEF, HELP
Gender equality—HELP
Reduce Child Mortality—AOM
Maternal Health—UNICEF
Infectious diseases—WaterAid, UNICEF
Environmental stability—WaterAid
Global partnership for development—ALL

28. Works Cited
Aid to Orphans of Madagascar. AOM. Web. 12 May 2011. <http://orphansofmadagascar.org/>.
HELP Madagascar. HELP Madagascar, 2000. Web. 12 May 2011. <http://www.helpmg.org/>.
"Human Rights Issues in Madagascar." Wildmadagascar.org. Web. 12 May 2011.
<http://www.wildmadagascar.org/overview/loc/54-human_rights.html>.
"Madagascar Action Plan." United Nations. Web. 12 May 2011.
<http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/Alliance/MADAGASCAR%20ACTION
%20PLAN.htm>.
"Millennium Development Goals: Madagascar." Index Mundi. Web. 12 May 2011.
<http://www.indexmundi.com/madagascar/millennium-development-goals.html>.
"Threats to Madagascar's Environment." Wildmadagascar.org. Web. 12 May 2011.
<http://www.wildmadagascar.org/conservation/threats.html>.
UNICEF for Madagascar. UNICEF. Web. 12 May 2011.
<http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/madagascar_41711.html>.
WaterAid International Site. WaterAid. Web. 12 May 2011.
<http://www.wateraid.org/international/what_we_do/where_we_work/madagascar/>.

29. The end!