PROJECT FOCUS: DIABE by Planète Urgence

Planète Urgence has launched a new project in Madagascar: « DIABE » stands for Integrated Development, Planning, and Wood-Energy in French. Supported by the European Commission, DIABE aims to ensure forest preservation and economic development in Madagascar. 

The main objective of the DIABE project is to contribute to the sustainable improvement of income and food security of rural households, particularly women and children, while preserving the natural environment in the peri-urban area of Antananarivo, Madagascar. To reach its objective, Planète Urgence and partners are working on 4 main components of activities:

• Preservation of forests and biodiversity by planting wood-fueled trees and replanting old plots
• Promotion of local economic development through the establishment of coal sales points and marketing actions
• Environmental awareness through workshops and training for nurserymen and foresters
• Support for sustainable territorial management through reforestation management plans or linking actors sensitized to the production and marketing of coal.

Overall, DIABE will contribute to the sustainable food security of rural households by increasing local woodfuel resources, introducing subsistence crops as well as promoting beekeeping. The action will contribute to making forest systems more resilient to climate change. The reduction in woodfuel requirements combined with more sustainable management of plantations will reduce the pressure on natural forests.

Their increased preservation will retain their potential for carbon sequestration, adaptation, and biodiversity.

The 3,5 million euros DIABE project was launched in November 2020 with the financial support of the European Commission in 79 communes of the 9 districts of Analamanga, Itasy and Alaotra-Mangoro regions in Madagascar. DIABE is coherent with the vision of the National Plan for Sustainable Development (PND) to « build a new Madagascar, […] a world leader in the development and preservation of its immense natural capital, based on strong and inclusive growth for the equitable and sustainable development of all territories« . 

Project partners

Planète Urgence (SOS GROUP International action) is an NGO of international solidarity and development support, created in 2000.  Planète Urgence aims to strengthen people for a united and sustainable planet so that everyone can live in dignity and in complete autonomy in a preserved environment. Planète Urgence has projects in countries on the African and the Asian continent.

The Republic of Madagascar, contracting administration and project leader through the Bureau d’Appui à la Coopération Extérieure (BACE) of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

European Union, main technical and financial partner, financing the project up to 95% in the framework of the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) of the European Commission.

Action Intercoopération Madagascar (AIM), a non-profit association under Malagasy law, created in September 2004, It ensures the direct implementation of development projects and programs in Madagascar.

Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), a French organization for agricultural research and international cooperation for the sustainable development of tropical and Mediterranean regions.

L’association Participation à la gestion de l’environnement (PARTAGE), a non-governmental organization specializing in supporting the management of renewable natural resources by local communities.

Background information

This initiative follows on from the ASA programme (programme to support agroforestry around Antananarivo), which was notably made up of the 3 projects ARINA (led by CIRAD with PARTAGE), ADIAFO (led by AIM), and AFIBERIA (led by Planète Urgence) from 2015 to 2019. The 4 partners have joined forces for this new DIABE project with a budget of €3.68M, 95% of which is financed by the European Union (€3.5M), with 5% to be co-financed by each partner. 

The DIABE project has its own website! If you would like to know more about the project, its progress, or the different components of the project, please visit http://www.diabe.mg/.