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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) completed the Madagascar National Disaster Preparedness Baseline Assessment (NDPBA) in partnership with the Bureau National de Gestion des Risques et des Catastrophes (BNGRC) and the support of in-country stakeholders. The NDPBA examines the country’s unique hazard profile, cultural characteristics, geographical and geopolitical context, historical events, and other factors that could impact, both positively and negatively, the ability to manage disasters. Recommendations, at both strategic and tactical levels, are developed based on the findings of the assessment and are aligned with the United Nations Development Goals and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030.
The assessment consists of two components: the Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (RVA) and the Disaster Management Analysis (DMA). The RVA considers multi-hazard exposure, social-economic vulnerabilities, and coping capacities. The DMA takes a qualitative approach to assess six thematic areas including enabling environment; institutional arrangements; disaster governance mechanisms; capabilities and resources; capacity development; and communication and information management. The DMA results are used to contextualize the RVA findings, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current disaster management landscape. PDC worked in partnership with BNGRC to integrate national priorities and stakeholder feedback throughout every step of the process, leveraging assessment findings to build recommendations and a Disaster Risk Reduction 5-Year Action Plan that allows for better targeted use of limited resources and identification of additional funding opportunities.
While the NDPBA was being conducted, the effects of climate change, particularly tropical cyclones, ooding, wildfires, droughts, and locust infestations, as well as the enduring impacts of the global COVID pandemic, added to the complexities of the country’s disaster risk environment. These events presented both challenges and opportunities for understanding and actively observing the capabilities of the Malagasy disaster management structure. The observations, as well as the lessons identified in this complex, multi-hazard environment, informed the RVA and DMA portions of the report, which are summarized immediately below and in the overall national and subnational recommendations.
The RVA results underline Madagascar’s exposure to numerous hazards, with tropical cyclones, ooding, landslides, extreme heat, malaria, and susceptibility to locusts contributing to a significant number of people, buildings, natural resources, and critical infrastructure at risk. Exposure to these hazards, as well as others included in the assessment, highlights the importance of implementing preparedness strategies and risk reduction initiatives. The assessment also identifies vulnerabilities and coping capacities related to current socio-economic conditions and available resources that can be leveraged to support all phases of disaster management. RVA Indicators show that overcoming challenges related to household access to clean water and sanitation, economic constraints, and access to information provides opportunities to reduce vulnerability across the country. In addition, improving access to health care services, transportation, and energy capacity can bolster Madagascar’s coping capacity and disaster response capabilities. Endeavors to address these challenges, paired with efforts to mitigate the identified vulnerabilities, will strengthen the nation’s overall resilience to disasters.
The DMA results found that Madagascar’s Disaster Risk Management (DRM) system remains severely under-resourced. The BNGRC and local authorities often lack the funding, staffing, and logistical capacity needed to maintain readiness or implement preparedness and risk reduction measures. Communication and coordination systems require investment to support collaboration across national and international partners and strengthen community resilience. Data systems are fragmented, and although risk mapping and early warning tools exist, they are not fully integrated or regularly updated, limiting effective, evidence-based decision-making during emergencies.
A significant barrier to effective disaster response is weak infrastructure. Widespread deficits in electricity, water supply, healthcare, telecommunications, and transportation undermine emergency operations and increase vulnerability. Addressing these infrastructure gaps is critical for improving preparedness and building resilience at all levels.
The NDPBA provides Madagascar with the scientific evidence and essential data for disaster risk monitoring and decision-making. To access all findings, recommendations, and data (tabular and spatial), developed for this analysis, please visit the PDC’s DisasterAWARE platform at www.pdc.orgsasteraware.pdc.org/. The Final Report can also be accessed at www.pdc.org.