Promoting Climate Resilience for Children and Families (Madagascar)

UNICEF Madagascar is seeking partners to implement climate resilience and disaster risk reduction initiatives in the Boeny region, particularly in the Mahajanga and Marovoay districts. The programme supports community-based actions that strengthen disaster preparedness, climate adaptation, environmental conservation, and resilience for children, families, schools, and health centres.

What is the UNICEF Madagascar Climate Resilience Initiative?

The UNICEF Madagascar Climate Resilience Initiative is a partnership opportunity designed to improve the resilience of communities affected by climate change and natural disasters in the Boeny region of north-west Madagascar.

The initiative focuses on protecting children and families from the impacts of cyclones, floods, storms, and other climate-related hazards through community engagement, disaster preparedness, sustainable environmental management, and nature-based solutions.

The programme complements UNICEF’s investments in resilient infrastructure and solar-powered public services by strengthening local capacity and community participation.

Background

The Boeny region is one of Madagascar’s climate vulnerability hotspots.

Communities in the region face increasing risks from:

• Cyclones.
• Flooding.
• Severe storms.
• Environmental degradation.
• Poverty.
• Limited access to essential services.
• Climate-related disruptions to education and healthcare.

Schools and health centres often experience interruptions during emergencies, affecting children’s education, health, and wellbeing.

UNICEF recognises that combining resilient infrastructure with community-led climate action can significantly improve disaster preparedness and long-term resilience.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to:

• Strengthen community disaster preparedness.
• Improve climate resilience for children and families.
• Enhance disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacities.
• Support schools and health centres in emergency preparedness.
• Promote sustainable environmental management.
• Encourage youth participation in climate action.
• Build community capacity to respond to climate-related hazards.

Key Highlights

• Programme Name: UNICEF Madagascar Climate Resilience Initiative
• Organiser: UNICEF
• Country: Madagascar
• Target Region: Boeny
• Implementation Districts: Mahajanga and Marovoay
• Programme Type: Partnership Opportunity
• Primary Focus: Climate resilience, disaster risk reduction, and community preparedness
• Funding Information: Not specified in the programme announcement

Focus Areas

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

The programme supports activities that:

• Strengthen local disaster preparedness.
• Improve emergency response capacity.
• Reduce community vulnerability to natural hazards.
• Build resilience among children and families.

Community Risk Assessments

Partners will conduct:

• Participatory climate risk assessments.
• Hazard mapping.
• Community vulnerability analysis.
• Local resilience planning.

Early Warning Systems

Eligible activities include:

• Establishing community-based early warning systems.
• Improving communication mechanisms.
• Strengthening preparedness before climate emergencies.
• Increasing awareness of disaster risks.

Emergency Preparedness

Projects may include:

• Community emergency preparedness training.
• School preparedness programmes.
• Health facility emergency planning.
• Capacity building for local stakeholders.

Mini-Meteorological Stations

The initiative supports:

• Installation of mini-meteorological stations.
• Collaboration with Madagascar’s national meteorological agency.
• Improved local weather monitoring.
• Better disaster forecasting and preparedness.

Nature-Based Climate Solutions

The programme promotes environmentally sustainable interventions, including:

• Sustainable water management.
• Flood risk reduction.
• Reforestation.
• Agroforestry.
• Ecosystem restoration.
• Community-based environmental conservation.

These approaches help reduce climate risks while protecting natural resources.

Education and Youth Engagement

The initiative places strong emphasis on involving children and young people.

Supported activities include:

• Environmental school clubs.
• Climate education.
• Youth leadership development.
• Community awareness campaigns.
• Adolescent participation in climate action.

Green and Blue Entrepreneurship

The programme encourages initiatives that promote:

• Green entrepreneurship.
• Blue economy opportunities.
• Climate-smart livelihoods.
• Sustainable business development for young people.
• Environmental innovation.

Complementing Resilient Infrastructure

Partners are expected to complement UNICEF’s investments in:

• Solar-powered schools.
• Solar-powered health centres.
• Climate-resilient public infrastructure.
• Community resilience systems.

The focus is on mobilising communities and ensuring that infrastructure investments are supported by strong local capacity.

Who Can Apply?

The opportunity is intended for organisations capable of implementing climate resilience and disaster risk reduction programmes in accordance with UNICEF’s partnership requirements.

Applicants should demonstrate experience in:

• Climate adaptation.
• Disaster risk reduction.
• Community development.
• Environmental conservation.
• Education.
• Youth engagement.
• Humanitarian programming.

How to Apply

Interested organisations should:

1. Review UNICEF’s partnership and eligibility requirements.
2. Confirm organisational eligibility.
3. Develop a project aligned with the programme objectives.
4. Design community-based climate resilience interventions.
5. Include strategies for youth participation and inclusion.
6. Prepare a detailed implementation plan and budget.
7. Submit the proposal through the official UNICEF application process before the specified deadline.

Why This Initiative Matters

Climate change disproportionately affects children and vulnerable communities.

This programme helps to:

• Protect communities from climate-related disasters.
• Strengthen preparedness and early warning systems.
• Improve education and health services during emergencies.
• Promote sustainable environmental management.
• Build youth leadership in climate action.
• Encourage resilient livelihoods.
• Increase long-term community resilience.

By combining infrastructure investments with community engagement, the initiative creates more sustainable and locally driven climate adaptation solutions.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

To strengthen your application:

• Demonstrate experience in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation.
• Include participatory community approaches.
• Show strong youth and child engagement strategies.
• Integrate nature-based solutions into project activities.
• Build partnerships with local authorities and community organisations.
• Present measurable indicators for resilience outcomes.
• Explain how activities will continue beyond the project period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common issues:

• Focusing only on infrastructure without community engagement.
• Excluding children, adolescents, or vulnerable groups from project planning.
• Ignoring environmental sustainability.
• Providing unclear implementation or monitoring plans.
• Failing to demonstrate local partnerships.
• Omitting long-term sustainability strategies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the purpose of this initiative?

The programme aims to strengthen climate resilience and disaster preparedness for children, families, schools, and health centres in the Boeny region of Madagascar.

2. Where will the project be implemented?

The initiative will be implemented in the Mahajanga and Marovoay districts of the Boeny region, Madagascar.

3. What types of activities are supported?

Supported activities include disaster risk reduction, participatory risk assessments, early warning systems, emergency preparedness, sustainable water management, reforestation, agroforestry, environmental education, youth leadership, and green and blue entrepreneurship.

4. Who are the primary beneficiaries?

The programme primarily benefits children, adolescents, families, schools, health centres, and vulnerable communities affected by climate-related risks.

5. Does the programme support renewable energy?

Yes. The initiative complements UNICEF’s investments in solar electrification of schools and health centres by strengthening community resilience and preparedness.

6. Is funding information available?

The programme announcement does not specify a funding amount.

7. Why are nature-based solutions important in this programme?

Nature-based solutions such as reforestation, agroforestry, sustainable water management, and flood risk reduction help communities adapt to climate change while protecting ecosystems and reducing disaster risks.

Conclusion

The UNICEF Madagascar Climate Resilience Initiative provides an opportunity for organisations to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate adaptation in one of Madagascar’s most vulnerable regions. By combining community mobilisation, environmental conservation, youth engagement, and disaster risk reduction with UNICEF’s investments in resilient infrastructure and solar energy, the programme aims to build safer, more resilient communities where children and families can better withstand the impacts of climate change.