Madagascar - L’OiEau strengthens water management and sanitation through two major projects

Published on 08/13/25

In 2025, the International Office for Water (OiEau) is stepping up its actions in Madagascar by participating in two major initiatives: strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in the Diana region, and Phase II of the Integrated Sanitation Programme for Antananarivo (PIAA2).

These projects, carried out with the support of local and international partners, aim to improve the quality of life of the population in a sustainable manner while protecting natural resources in the face of climate change.

GIRE: preserving water and biodiversity in the Diana region

With support from the Agence de l’Eau Artois-Picardie (AEAP), OiEau is working with the Regional Development Directorate (DDR) in the Diana region of northern Madagascar to develop IWRM in the southern Sambirano river basin.

This basin, covering an area of 3,300 km², is a strategic agricultural area, particularly for cocoa production (80% of national production), but also for coffee, vanilla and pepper.

The project includes:

The implementation of pilot actions that can be transferred to other Malagasy basins.
The integration of climate change adaptation measures.
Support for Madagascar National Parks topreserve protected areas (35% of the regional territory) with the full involvement of local communities.
The development of income-generating activities to improve the well-being of populations.

This approach aims to strike a balance between water resource protection, biodiversity conservation and local socio-economic development.

Biodiversity is an integral part of the Diana region's IWRM project. Madagascar's biodiversity is exceptional in terms of its level of endemism, the rarity of certain species and the alteration of habitats, particularly forests. Furthermore, these forests, symbolised by the Amber Forest, are the water tower of the Diego Suarez region. Its preservation is therefore fundamental for water and biodiversity.

During the April 2025 mission, although this was not its main objective, several remarkable plant and animal species were observed, and the reports presented by PNM confirm the importance of this region. The specific challenge of creating a biosphere reserve is unanimously supported by all the stakeholders we met, and PNM has proposed the creation of a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) for all the lakes in the Amber Forest.

Mr Luc BARBIER

Vice-President of the Artois-Picardy Basin Committee

PIAA2: modernising sanitation and combating flooding in Antananarivo

In Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, OiEau is participating in Phase II of the Integrated Sanitation Programme (PIAA2), a project that is essential to meeting the challenges posed by rapid urban growth, recurrent flooding and waterborne diseases.

Following an initial phase that saw the rehabilitation of canals, pumping stations and drainage networks, Phase 2 (2024-2029) aims to:

Strengthen the sanitation capacity of the capital and its 38 outlying municipalities.
Set up the first wastewater treatment plant in Antananarivo.
Train local teams (A.P.I.P.A, Municipal Sanitation Company, Urban Commune) to ensure the maintenance and sustainable management of the facilities.
Launch a continuing education programme for agents and initial training for students in hydraulics, in partnership with the École Supérieure des Techniques d'Antananarivo.

OiEau, in collaboration with the engineering firm ICE France, is conducting a technical, institutional and financial feasibility study for this plant in order to secure investments and optimise technical choices.

In addition to a visit to the main wastewater treatment plant in Limoges Métropole, the PIA2 coordination team visited the OiEau sites in Limoges and La Souterraine, where they were able to discover the educational facilities of the Training Centre.

The PIAA2 team is here at OiEau because one of the components of the project is to study the establishment of a wastewater treatment plant, the first in Antananarivo, as well as capacity building and additional support.

We are currently working with OiEau on this feasibility study, which will result in the development of terms of reference for the implementation of this plant. The plan is to divide Antananarivo into four sectors and set up one plant for each sector.

There will then be a need for capacity building for field staff from the three entities working on sanitation in Antananarivo, namely the Antananarivo Plain Flood Protection Authority (A.P.I.P.A), the Municipal Sanitation Company (SMA) and the Urban Commune of Antananarivo (CUA).

Ms Oyo RAZAKAMAHEFA

Project Coordinator

A commitment to a resilient future

These two projects illustrate OiEau's ability to combine technical expertise, institutional support and training to build sustainable water management and sanitation solutions.

Through IWRM in the Diana region and PIAA2 in Antananarivo, Madagascar is strengthening its resilience to environmental and health challenges, while promoting its natural resources for the benefit of its communities.