EDF MICRO-PROJECTS PROGRAMME TO SAVE THE CAPITAL FROM CHOLERA.

A good example of the effectiveness of Micro-Projects Programmes is their use in the fight against the spread of cholera in Antananarivo in 1999.

The epidemic, which began in the Mahajanga region, gradually spread across the country, reaching the province of Antananarivo towards the end of the first quarter of 1999. To curb the proliferation of the disease, the Ministry of Health and Antananarivo's urban municipality officials requested financial assistance to create new public WCs in the capital's 6 Boroughs (Arrondissements).

Thanks to these streamlined procedures and flexible eligibility criteria, the Micro-Projects Programme of the European Development Fund (EDF) 7 MAG 071 could be put to immediate use to finance the construction of sanitation and hygiene infrastructures.

Implementation strategy

In line with the strategy adopted by the various managers, it was decided to entrust management of the work to the Local Development Committees (CLD) of each of the city's districts.

The committee is responsible for rapidly identifying suitable sites for building infrastructure, considering factors such as accessibility, water connections, demographic and social criteria.

The committee presents plans and specifications for each construction project, as well as the organization of the work sites.

Once the plans, specifications and site organization had been approved, the cheques were issued to the committee's account, opened for the exclusive use of the project. Monitoring and control are carried out in the same way as for any project financed by the Micro-projects Programme.

Results

The urban municipality of Antananarivo was able to quickly build additional sanitation infrastructure in densely populated neighborhoods. This has made an effective contribution to curbing the proliferation of the disease in the capital.

The funding granted by the Micro-projects Programme for the project is 200 million FMG.

Building on this successful experience in Antananarivo Renivohitra, the Micro-Projects Programme was able to provide the Commune of Sabotsy-Namehana with public sanitation and hygiene infrastructure at a cost of 50 million FMG.