The Government encourages varied agricultural research and extension services, and local farmer organisations are involved in setting policy priorities. The extension system is effective and properly reaches out to poor farmers. Government policies, strategies and mechanisms seek to ensure gender equity in access to extension services.
Madagascar instituted a separate budget line for nutrition, enabling transparency and accountability for spending.
The Government has fully enshrined the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes into domestic law.
The Government of Madagascar promotes complementary feeding practices and has achieved two high doses of vitamin A supplementation for 97% of children in 2015.
In Madagascar, constitutional protection of the right to social security is strong.
Spending on agriculture (1.9% of public spending in 2016), does not meet government commitments set out in the African Union’s Maputo Declaration (10% of public spending).
In Madagascar, the law gives women and men equal economic rights and equal legal access to agricultural land. However, these laws are not effectively enforced and discriminatory practices against women continue, increasing their vulnerability to hunger and undernutrition.
Policymakers in Madagascar do not benefit from regular nutrition surveys that are statistically representative at national level. The last survey was published in 2012-2013.
Weak access to an improved source of drinking water (53.3% in 2015) and an improved sanitation facility (9.7% in 2015) prevents positive outcomes for hunger and nutrition in Madagascar.
Social safety nets in Madagascar are basic and only cover few risks for a limited number of beneficiaries.