Tracking Development - Rio Tinto - Qit Madagascar Minerals

The Production Phase
To Improve local living standards and
enhance household livelihoods of
communities bordering mandena and
living in fort dauphin, two flagship
programmes were launched.
executing agencies
Operating in a consortium of five Agents d’Exécution
(AGEX, or executing agencies), these QMM partners
bring their individual skills and expertise to the PDI
by implementing the projects with the communities.
• Agrivet: A national veterinary company implementing
beekeeping and poultry production activities.
• ASOS (Action Socio-Sanitaire et Organisation
Secours): A Malagasy NGO specialised in health,
sanitation and rural development and implementing
vegetable cultivation activities.
• Manoa Company: A local company implementing
sustainable fisheries and eel production activities.
• FAFAFI (Fanentanana Fambolena sy Fiompiana):
A faith-based Malagasy NGO specialised in agricultural
development, implementing pig farming and rice
production activities.
• Cielo Terra: A local NGO implementing handicraft
production, sea fishing, lake tourism, literacy
programmes and community health activities.
The Programme de Développement Intégré (PDI, or
Integrated Development Programme), initiated in 2009
with a projected time frame of three years and an annual
budget of US$ one million, targets rural communities
bordering Mandena, primarily residing in the communes of
Ampasy Nahampoana and Mandromondromotra, as well as
communities in the Fort Dauphin area and surrounding the
Port of Ehoala. Jointly managed by QMM and government
representatives, the programme is intended to be a timelimited
contribution to the sustainable development of the
region beyond specific contractual obligations. The PDI aims
to improve living standards and conditions of the population
directly affected by the project, with an overall objective of
minimising any adverse impacts the mining operation might
have on the community and environment while maximising
the positive benefits.
From the programme’s launch, a participatory approach
was adopted to determine the needs and problems of the
target population, which the PDI has worked to address and
improve. Priorities originated from the communities, with
three key areas of intervention determined; the construction
of infrastructure, training and education and incomegenerating
activities (IGA).
Currently, 33 villages and 2,000 people are directly benefiting
from the PDI. A major strategy adopted by QMM is the
promotion of IGA to alleviate pressure on natural resources
and to improve income levels of the local population. To
date, 17 IGA projects working towards building sustainable
livelihoods have been identified and are in operation. As
grassroots undertakings, these projects have the ability
to produce tangible results in the short-term but are
envisioned to operate for the long-term. Projects include
animal husbandry, agriculture, sustainable fishing and honey
production (for a complete list see page 48).
47