Madagascar
Madagascar participates in the GEF-8 Sustainable Cities Integrated Program (SCIP) through the coastal city of Toamasina, advancing an integrated and climate-resilient approach to urban development. As a nation renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity yet highly vulnerable to cyclones, flooding, and climate-related shocks, Madagascar faces mounting pressures on its urban systems.
Through GEF-8 SCIP and the GPSC Global Knowledge Platform, Toamasina is strengthening urban planning, piloting circular economy solutions, and expanding nature-based measures to create cleaner, healthier, and more resilient neighborhoods. The program supports smart, data-driven approaches to managing waste, improving public services, and enhancing the city’s capacity to adapt to extreme weather events. Madagascar’s engagement offers important lessons for the global GEF network on how biodiversity-rich, climate-vulnerable countries can integrate nature and resilience into fast-growing urban areas.
The project will address Toamasina’s systemic challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, and inefficient waste management, by implementing smart urban solutions that integrate sustainable resource use, reduced emissions, and improved public services. Key activities will include developing a smart city framework, incorporating digital technologies for better governance, and promoting a circular economy through innovative waste management and resource recovery solutions. The project will also focus on building the capacity of local institutions, creating financial mechanisms to support sustainable growth, and fostering collaborations between government, the private sector, and civil society. Additionally, the project will pilot innovative solutions in key urban sectors, including waste management, energy, and transportation, with a focus on gender equality and community involvement.
Component 1 – Digital Governance, Regulatory Reform, and Integrated Urban Planning
Urban regulatory reform and enforcement strengthening, including zoning updates, illegal construction control, ecosystem protection rules, and sector regulations (waste, energy efficiency, sustainable transport)
Deployment of GIS-based digital urban planning and environmental monitoring systems, including dynamic mapping of green spaces, wetlands, forests, peri-urban areas, and industrial pollution sources
Integrated digital urban governance platform, combining zoning data, permit management, flood-risk prediction, environmental compliance tracking, and stakeholder reporting mechanisms
Environmental standards integration and compliance mechanisms, including adoption of national/international standards into municipal permitting systems
Institutional coordination and PPP regulatory framework development, including sustainability-oriented PPP templates and governance arrangements
Component 2 – Smart Environmental Infrastructure, Monitoring, and MRV Systems
Establishment of Toamasina Smart City Lab and environmental laboratory infrastructure, equipped for GIS analytics, waste monitoring, air and water quality testing, and energy efficiency analysis
Deployment of smart environmental monitoring systems, including wetland degradation tracking, rainfall/flood early warning systems, and industrial emissions supervision
Waste-to-energy regulatory framework operationalization, aligned with technical standards and environmental safeguards
Development and operationalization of real-time MRV system, covering GHG emissions, biodiversity indicators, land degradation, and chemical pollutants
Digital compliance and environmental reporting protocols, including automated flagging and institutional monitoring dashboards
Component 3 – Sustainable Finance, Pilot Investments, and Circular Economy Implementation
Preparation of bankable urban sustainability investment pipeline, including feasibility studies and structured financing plans
Design of innovative green finance instruments, including green bonds, carbon credit mechanisms, blended finance models, and PPP structuring
Implementation of inclusive waste-to-energy and circular economy pilot projects, including methanization, biochar, and material recovery initiatives
Climate-resilient urban infrastructure pilots, including drainage cleaning, water storage systems, canal restoration, wetland rehabilitation, and forest ecosystem restoration
Community-based green enterprise and SME support programs, including eco-tourism, sustainable mobility, and technology-enabled environmental services (e.g., drone data services)
Component 4 – Knowledge Management and Capacity Building
Development of digital training and e-learning platforms on sustainable urban planning and Industry 4.0 applications
Technical training programs for municipal staff on GIS, digital monitoring tools, circular economy, and environmental compliance
Public awareness campaigns on pollution control, waste management, and renewable energy adoption
University partnerships and international knowledge exchange mechanisms for MEA monitoring and smart city innovation
Component 5 – Monitoring and Evaluation
Quarterly and annual performance reporting aligned with GEF core indicators
Mid-term review and terminal evaluation processes
Adaptive management mechanisms based on real-time monitoring data
Strengthened governance and urban planning, enhancing legal, regulatory, and operational frameworks for sustainable land use, resource consumption, and environmental protection.
Smart City Infrastructure and Environmental Monitoring improvement
Development of innovative financing and investments mechanisms.
Knowledge Sharing and Capacity Building, emphasizing south-south and exchange learning strategies.
Total GEF Grant (USD): 11,559,934
Total Co-financing (USD): 54,155,000
World Bank Country Profile (Data Portal)
For broader socioeconomic and environmental context, consult the World Bank Country Data Profile. It provides up-to-date indicators on economic performance, social development, climate and environmental metrics, as well as an overview of World Bank operations and financing in the country. Access the country profile here.
GEF Country Profile
For information on Global Environment Facility engagement, see the GEF Country Profile. It presents an overview of GEF-funded projects, thematic areas of intervention, implementing partners, and country resource allocations, offering insight into environmental investment priorities and ongoing initiatives. Access the country profile here.
WOFI Country Profile
For additional insights on subnational public finance, see the OECD Subnational Government Finance Observatory (WOFI) Country Profile. It provides internationally comparable data on revenues, expenditures, investment, debt, and fiscal arrangements across levels of government, offering a useful reference on fiscal capacity and decentralization. Access the country profile here.
