The Role of CSOs in Promoting Sustainable Infrastructure in Madagascar

In Madagascar, the integration of sustainable infrastructure practices and standards is still an issue. A major contribution to this issue is a lack of CSO representation in infrastructure issues at the regional and country level. To curb this, Madagascar is working with CSOs to build their capacity in land-based natural resource management, environmental advocacy, and community support.
Unsustainable practices continue to contribute to the degradation and unsustainability of gray infrastructure in the country. Some of the threats to sustainable infrastructure include non-compliance with standards, lack of resilience of infrastructure, and degradation of the environment surrounding infrastructure.
“CSOs are one of our main key stakeholders with different government bodies such as the ministries responsible for land use, environment, and infrastructure, Environment National Office as well as the private sector,” said Henitsoa Nomenjanahary, Technical Assistant Sustainable Infrastructure Specialist, WWF-Madagascar.
The complexity of the economic, social, and political issues surrounding environmental actions requires responsible, committed, strong, and effective organizations and actors. When local CSO bodies are strengthened, they can actively engage government institutions to commit, adopt and implement sustainable investment and infrastructure legislation, policies, and plans.