Madagascar

Madagascar is an island country in the Indian Ocean off the coast of southern Africa, where farming, fishing and forestry form the backbone of the economy. By area, Madagascar is the fourth largest island in the world, with around 26 million inhabitants.  

Madagascar’s isolation contributes to the high levels of poverty found in the country. Around 76% of people in Madagascar earn below the International Poverty Line ($2.15). The vast majority of sustenance farming is small-scale, with seven out of 10 smallholder farmers owning no more than 1.2 hectares of land. As a result, food production is insufficient to sustain the population. As the world’s water levels continue to rise, Madagascar's location makes it very susceptible to cyclones and other climate driven disasters.  

Madagascar's main exports include coffee, tea and spices, and most of the population speak Malagasy and French. It is home to about 12,000 of the world's plant species.

Mary's Meals in Madagascar

Mary’s Meals has been serving school meals in Madagascar since 2019. 

We feed children living in the north, central and southeast regions of Madagascar, working in partnership with Feedback Madagascar and Grandir Dignement. 

Four of our programmes in Madagascar take place in detention centres. The children we feed are taking part in prison education programmes, and our nutritious meals give them both vital nourishment and a chance to learn. 

We are currently reaching more than 88,500 children in primary schools and detention centres.