Shahnaz Radjy, CBi Secretariat
In 2022, the Private Sector Humanitarian Platform (PSHP) in Madagascar worked with partners to build a bridge over a river that often floods in the case of heavy rains. It used to claim a number of lives every year, and had earned the nickname “Alailoza” locally (which translates to “that which attracts danger”) because of it. Four communities live on the other side of the river, with over 1000 inhabitants benefiting from the access and safety the bridge provides.
Two years after its construction and in the aftermath of tropical cyclones Chido and Dikeledi, the PSHP team went back on site to talk to community members to get a better sense of the impact of their infrastructure investment, and check to ensure that the bridge hadn’t been too damaged in the recent storms (it hadn’t).
“We’re ready to do the heavy lifting needed to improve the state of this bridge,” says Jean de Dieu, former community president. “We don’t have the financial resources to get materials, but can provide the manpower to do any works needed, because this bridge is an incredible asset to us.”
Ny Avo, a 15-year-old student, shared that before the bridge, she had to walk two hours to get to school. This included crossing the river on foot, which was impossible when it rained too much or if the river flooded. Since the bridge was built, she feels safer going to school, and misses less days.
But access to school and education isn’t the only benefit of this bridge.
Ruffin, a 37-year-old who manages a rice husking machine, shares that the bridge makes transporting agricultural harvests much easier now that they don’t have to tackle the river on foot but can use the bridge to cross it rain or shine. Before, flooding trapped his community on their side of the river for days! That’s no longer the case. “Since the bridge was built, our situation is much better – this bridge is essential to us,” he says.
Mr. Rado, a 37-year-old teacher, shares that “We are incredibly grateful to the partners who build this bridge, as it has made it easier for inhabitants of the communities to connect with the outside – from students going to school to anyone needing access to health centers or even city hall for administrative purposes, and getting goods to the market.” Now, when there is a flood, it takes but a few hours for the bridge to be passable again.
This is a great example of disaster management and how risk can be reduced by understanding communities’ needs and seeing how to improve everyday lives in a way that also contributes to communities’ longer term resilience and well-being. By building this bridge, PSHP saved lives, improved livelihoods, and gave future generations a better outlook by making it easier for them to get an education.
The bridge was built by the PHSP Madagascar with the support of Terre Plurielle and Cimentis.
Note: This article will be part of the CBi Annual Report 2024-2025 when it comes out later this year.