This document outlines Madagascar's policy for ecotourism concessions in national parks. [1] It establishes the legal context under protected areas law and defines concessions as service zones. [2] It describes the objectives of using concessions to develop ecotourism, the roles of different actors like the Ministry of Environment and Madagascar National Parks, and the general contents of concession contracts. [3] Recent examples of concession projects are provided, but political instability has interrupted their progress.

1. Concession Management in 1. Legal context for concessions
Madagascar • Law: „Code des Aires Protégées“ (Protected
Area Law);
Michaela Pawliczek • Concession project defined as „zone de
Maputo, 20th March 2012 service“ (service zone);
• Legal base for concession development:
„Lettre de politique“ (2008):
• Land in National Parks
belongs to State;
2. Content of Policy Letter …
• Procedures:
• Context of Concession policy: Madagascar Action – Categorised under public-private partnership law;
Plan; – Request for proposal;
• Objectifs of ecotourism concession development; – Mise en comptabilité des Investissement avec Environnement
(MECIE) & EIA;
• Orientation & strategy:
• National Procurement procedures: no obligation to use;
– Revision of investment stategy and creation of
• Definition of documents to deliver from investor for
favorable investment climate; manifestation of interest;
– Support of tourism development strategy; • Public bidding, short-list procedure possible;
– No privatisation or desengagement of Government; • Transfer of concession contract under some conditions;
• Political aspects: • All infrastructure constructed during concession time
– High value/low impact ecotourism development; become property of State;
– Definition of actors in the process; • Concession contract no longer than 30 years, renewable;
3. Actors in charge/ Commission 4. Some details
• Ministry of Environment: decision agency; • Contract signed by:
• Ministry of Tourism: role unclear; – Ministry of Environment;
– EDBM;
• Economic Development Board of Madagascar:
– MNP;
overlooking process, promoting sites;
– Private investor;
• ANGAP/Madagascar National Parks: manager; – Ministry of Tourism???;
• Local community: unclear, no experiences; • Royalty fees: not yet specified; only stated that
• Technical support staff; one part should „systematically transferred to
comunities and surroudining communities“;

2. 5. Content of Contract 6. Recent concession projects
• Nature and type of construction; A) Min Env/MNP/KfW: NP Ankarafantsika:
• Services provided; • Inside park Ankarafantsika;
• Exclusivity; • Extension of existing bungalow complexe (15 bungalows);
• Rights and obligations of concession holder; • 18 years concession previewed;
• Property rights and further obligations of both parties; • Short-list procedure for Malagasy Nationals;
• Renumeration and redevance to pay to authority; • Concession fees: Bed nights and percentage of annual
• Right of authority to follow construction/ services; revenue;
• Administrative standard of reports/information of • Royalty fee sharing: 5% Min Env/15% loc pop/ 80% MNP
activity; (not park directly);
• concession contract between private investor/MNP/
• Right of authority to examine and approve principle Ministry of Environment;
contracts of concession holder following request for
proposal; • Interrupted by political crisis;
• Procedures in case of failing of project;
… 7. Current situation Madagascar
B) Min Env/MNP/IFC: • Ongoing crisis;
• Site selection (parks and concession
sites); • Downturn of economy (loss of US$ 600 Mio);
• Support of update of legal framework • Loss of investors and no new interest;
(investment law, request for proposals,
example contract); • Social problems and corruption increasing;
• concession contract between private
investor/MNP/ Ministry of • Tourism development 2012 regaining;
Environment; overlooked by EDBM;
• Investment promotion and marketing
of sites;
• Interrupted by political crisis;
8. What is necessary on the way forward? Thank you very much!
• Elections approved by int. community;
• Stable political climate;
• What is ecotourism? Questions?
• Concessions: do we want it – or not?
• Review and reform of legal context including public-
private partnership law, investment code, tourism
code;
• Clarification of roles and responsabilities of actors
(Minstry level, MNP, EDBM, communities);
• Streamlined investment promotion;