United Nations System: $US 150 million for 2012-2013

The United Nations System in Madagascar validated yesterday its interim program 2012-2013 with an estimated budget of $US 150 million. Actually, for the time being, interim programs (meaning temporary funding) are becoming the trend among Madagascar’s donors. The cause is the majority of them does not yet recognize the current regime as legitimate, so they cannot interact with it and content themselves with a strategy of interim program which, in other words, is a sort of compassion activity for the Malagasy people.

For the United Nations, the budget referred to above will be used to support the process of transition and national reconciliation, and to support the effort towards the respect of the rule of law and the promotion of peace. Besides, the funds will be used to help protect the most vulnerable and at risk population. Other targeted activities include disaster management, access to basic social services such as education and health, access to drinking water and sanitation, support for the economy in transitional period, and the strengthening of information, monitoring-evaluation and communication. So, finally for the first time since the beginning of the crisis, the United Nations deign to look more closely at the economic side of the crisis. Like other donors, they merely financed the emergency and humanitarian programs.