Madagascar to boost urban resilience and jobs in Antananarivo and Toamasina

The World Bank Group has approved US$225 million in financing for the Integrated Urban Development and Resilience Project for Jobs (PRODUIRE2) to strengthen climate resilience, improve infrastructure, and create more and better jobs in Greater Antananarivo and Greater Toamasina, according to a press release issued on July 6, 2026. The initiative targets two of Madagascar’s largest urban centers, which face escalating climate and development pressures. It builds on an existing World Bank-supported urban resilience program in Antananarivo. The project sets ambitious targets to be achieved by 2032. Its central aim is to transform these cities into resilient, inclusive engines of growth.

Madagascar’s rapidly growing cities face mounting challenges. In early 2026, cyclones Fytia and Gezani caused damages estimated at the equivalent to 3.4 percent of the country’s GDP. In Greater Antananarivo, extreme urban poverty has more than doubled over the past decade, despite the capital generating close to 44 percent of GDP. Recurrent flooding, inadequate infrastructure, and insecure land tenure deter private investment and limit economic opportunities. These conditions keep the city’s most vulnerable residents locked in poverty.

PRODUIRE2 will deepen investments in flood protection, drainage, solid waste management, neighborhood upgrading, and land administration in Greater Antananarivo. In Greater Toamasina, where cyclone Gezani damaged 70 percent of the housing stock, the project will focus on rebuilding resilient housing and rehabilitating schools and health facilities. By 2032, it aims to bring climate-resilient infrastructure to 1.5 million people and reconstruct 20,000 homes to resilient standards. It will also issue land documentation for 50,000 parcels and generate approximately 17,000 jobs. Nearly half of the land in Antananarivo lacks formal titles, and at least 40 percent of new land documents issued will include women as sole or joint rights holders.

Government officials underscored the project’s role in improving daily life.

“When cities work better, people live better. With the support of this new World Bank Group-financed project, families will benefit from safer neighborhoods, better infrastructure, improved access to land services, and greater economic opportunities. This investment will help create jobs, support local businesses, and give more people the chance to build a brighter future for their families,” said Dr Herinjatovo Ramiarison, Minister of Economy and Finance of Madagascar.

Atou Seck, World Bank Group Country Manager for Madagascar, noted that the University of Barikadimy will be fully rebuilt to higher standards. He added that investments in the Canal C3 ter and Canal C3 bis will help reduce flooding during the rainy season.

PRODUIRE2 reflects a long-term partnership between the Government of Madagascar and the World Bank Group. It is supported by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and by the Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) Partnership financed by the Government of Japan. These partners provide technical and analytical assistance to strengthen Madagascar’s framework for disaster risk management, urban resilience, and infrastructure quality. The project will support Antananarivo and Toamasina to become more resilient, inclusive, and dynamic engines of growth. Together, these efforts lay the groundwork for sustained private investment, jobs, and economic growth.