Local Development Fund: disappointment for Communes

Once again, the putschist regime caused general disappointment. This time, the farming Communes which expected a lot from the local development Fund (LDF) actually turned in empty handed. 

The LDF was supposed to boost a certain number of development projects in the Malagasy Communes, namely the rural ones with generally very restricted resources. 

The political crisis and the putsch back in mid-March have decided differently. Most financial backers have suspended their help, the LDF only has, as for today, left-over to share.  

Anyway, the 660 benefiting Communes will receive, this year, their share of help. Each Commune will be granted 9 millions Ariaries, instead of the basically planned 74 millions Ariaries, merely 12% of the initially promised amount. This is the state’s contribution to the local development Fund. The rural mayors’ disappointment is well comprehensible. 

The FDL will always be dedicated to development projects. The Fund’s mobilization should allow the creation of a few more than a million temporary jobs all across Madagascar, through High Rate Work Hand projects (HRWH).  

Normally, Madagascar’s 1500 Communes are supposed to benefit from the LDF but a certain number of criteria is being required, namely the existence of a year 2008  administrative account, the availability of a basic budget and the presence of a treasury accountant secretary. They might constitute a luxury for some rural Communes.