Joint Baseline Survey Result Dissemination Workshop

Antananarivo - USAID through its three NGO partners i.e. ADRA, CRS and CARE will hold at 09:00 a.m. on March 11, 2005 a workshop for dissemination of the outcomes of a joint baseline survey conducted on the nutritional, agricultural and food situation in Title II PL 480 program focus areas. All private and public partners collaborating with these three NGOs are expected to participate in this workshop.

The US Government has supported a food security program in Madagascar under the Title II PL 480 program since 1997. The second phase of the program (2004-2008) will be managed by the Adventist Development Relief Association (ADRA), Catholic Relief Service (CRS), and Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhre (CARE). These NGOs commonly called “Cooperating Sponsors” operate in Antananarivo, Toamasina and Fianarantsoa provinces, and at local level in Tolagnaro, particularly in areas where food insecurity is deemed serious. Their activity programs cover a number of sectors, including health, nutrition, agriculture, environment, good governance, natural resource management, and HIV/AIDS.

The report contains outcomes of a baseline survey conducted jointly by the three CSs in their respective target areas, as a prerequisite to their 2004-2008 program. It provides recommendations that will help adjust their actions to the prevailing conditions as revealed by the survey. Such outcomes and recommendations mainly pertain to USAID Title II program target areas, and can be used by any institution working in the same geographical zones and sectors concerned by the survey.

Added value to the report is the analysis of recent data made to provide responses to the questions of how many and who are affected by food insecurity and where they live. The report also looks into the reasons why these populations are food insecure and live in state of poverty.