Integrated Urban Development Project Boosts Resilience

Urban Development is at the forefront of addressing the challenges posed by climate change, inadequate infrastructure, and unemployment.

The Integrated Urban Development and Resilience Project for Jobs (PRODUIRE2) represents a significant investment aimed at transforming the cities of Antananarivo and Toamasina.

With a funding of $225 million, this project sets ambitious goals to enhance climate resilience, improve essential infrastructure, and create thousands of jobs for local residents.

By focusing on critical areas such as housing, flood protection, and property rights, PRODUIRE2 holds the promise of a brighter future for 1.5 million people by 2032.

Overview of PRODUIRE2

The Integrated Urban Development and Resilience Project for Jobs PRODUIRE2, approved on July 6, 2026, brings a $225 million investment to Madagascar with a clear focus on making Antananarivo and Toamasina safer, stronger, and more economically dynamic.

By pairing resilience with service delivery and employment creation, the project addresses urgent urban pressures while supporting long term development.

It aims to strengthen climate resilience, improve essential infrastructure, and expand job opportunities in areas where rapid urban growth and climate shocks have raised the stakes for households and local authorities.

The program is designed to benefit 1.5 million people by 2032, creating a broad impact across neighborhoods that face flooding, service gaps, and insecure living conditions.

Beyond its scale, PRODUIRE2 targets practical results that matter to families and communities.

It seeks to rebuild 20,000 homes and generate about 17,000 jobs, helping residents recover, earn income, and stay rooted in their communities.

At the same time, it advances flood protection, improves solid waste management, and supports land tenure regularization, all of which are essential for safer cities and more stable livelihoods.

These measures also reinforce recovery after Cyclone Gezani, including public infrastructure rehabilitation and the reconstruction of the University of Barikadimy, while giving women stronger access to property titles and the security that comes with them.

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure and Job Creation

The $225 million investment under the Integrated Urban Development and Resilience Project for Jobs (PRODUIRE2) aims to modernize urban infrastructure in Antananarivo and Toamasina while simultaneously creating significant employment opportunities.

Through large-scale public-works contracts, the project will ensure local labor involvement, fostering community engagement and enhancing livelihoods.

By upgrading infrastructure to be more climate-resilient, the project will not only reduce climate risks but also elevate the overall quality of life for citizens, paving the way for sustainable economic growth.

Flood Protection in Antananarivo and Toamasina

Antananarivo and Toamasina are getting targeted flood defenses through PRODUIRE2, which expands drainage networks, adds retention basins, and reinforces riverbanks in the most exposed neighborhoods and corridors.

In Antananarivo, these works move stormwater away from homes and markets faster, while retention basins temporarily store peak runoff during intense rain.

As a result, water levels drop more quickly, roads stay passable longer, and floodwater reaches fewer households.

Riverbank reinforcement also stabilizes vulnerable sections near dense settlements, reducing erosion and limiting overflow during heavy storms.

In Toamasina, the same integrated approach protects business districts, logistics zones, and critical transport arteries that keep the port city functioning during severe weather.

Better drainage prevents water from backing up into streets and shops, while strengthened embankments reduce overtopping and damage to adjacent infrastructure.

Moreover, these investments support climate resilience by lowering repair costs, shortening recovery times, and helping residents maintain access to schools, services, and jobs after extreme rainfall.

Together, the measures make both cities safer, more reliable, and better prepared for future climate shocks.

Solid Waste Management Enhancements

PRODUIRE2 strengthens solid waste management in Antananarivo and Toamasina by improving how waste is collected, transferred, and treated, so neighborhoods become cleaner and more resilient.

The project supports better service organization, upgraded equipment, and smarter disposal systems that reduce dumping, clogging, and flood risks.

As a result, streets stay safer, drains work better, and polluted runoff reaches homes less often.

In parallel, stronger collection and transfer systems help move waste away from dense communities faster, while better sorting and recovery practices increase recycling opportunities and cut pressure on landfills.

These improvements also protect public health by lowering exposure to pests, standing water, and disease, which matters especially after heavy rains and cyclones.

Moreover, cleaner urban environments support local jobs and improve daily life for families, schools, and markets.

By linking sanitation, climate resilience, and economic opportunity, PRODUIRE2 helps both cities build healthier and more reliable urban services for the long term.

Ultimately, stronger waste management becomes a practical defense against flooding and urban decay.

Land Tenure Regularization and Women’s Empowerment

PRODUIRE2 places land tenure regularization at the center of urban resilience in Antananarivo and Toamasina, because formal property titles do more than confirm ownership.

They give families greater security, reduce disputes, and encourage households to improve homes with confidence.

As a result, people are more willing to invest in drainage, sanitation, and safer building upgrades, which reinforces the wider flood protection and infrastructure works supported by the project.

Source: Madagascar to Boost Urban Resilience and Jobs in Antananarivo and Toamasina

The project also expands digital land services, making documentation more accessible and helping residents move from informal occupancy to legally recognized tenure.

This matters especially for women, who often face stronger barriers to owning and controlling land.

When women receive recognized titles, they gain stronger bargaining power, better protection in family transitions, and improved access to credit and income opportunities.

Consequently, land regularization becomes a practical tool for economic empowerment, not only a legal procedure.

In both cities, this approach supports stability, investment, and dignity for thousands of households.

Post-Cyclone Gezani Recovery Efforts

Following Cyclone Gezani, PRODUIRE2 moves quickly to restore daily life in Toamasina by rehabilitating damaged public infrastructure and rebuilding the University of Barikadimy.

The storm stripped roofs, disrupted connectivity, and left students and staff without safe learning spaces, so reconstruction now prioritizes durable classrooms, digital access, and energy reliability.

At the same time, the project repairs roads, drainage, and other critical infrastructure that support education, health, and transport services.

These interventions help public institutions reopen faster, reduce travel disruption, and improve access to care and learning for surrounding communities.

By restoring these essential services, the recovery effort supports continuity in public administration and daily urban mobility while also creating immediate jobs in construction and related local services.

Moreover, the rehabilitation strategy does more than replace what was lost.

It strengthens resilience against future climatic shocks by integrating better flood protection, safer building standards, and infrastructure designed to withstand extreme weather.

This approach reduces future downtime and lowers repair costs, which gives local authorities a more stable base for long-term planning.

As the University of Barikadimy reopens and surrounding networks recover, the city regains an important driver of skills development, research, and economic activity.

In turn, this recovery rekindles local development by reconnecting neighborhoods, supporting service delivery, and signaling that Toamasina can rebuild smarter and stronger after disaster.

In conclusion, the PRODUIRE2 initiative embodies a crucial step toward sustainable urban development, providing essential support for vulnerable populations while fostering economic growth.

Its multifaceted approach will help mitigate the effects of climate change and ensure a resilient future for Antananarivo and Toamasina.