Drinking water: The rate of access to drinking water increased from 43% in 2018 to 55.8% in 2024.
Access to drinking water in Madagascar has improved significantly in six years. However, almost half of the population still lacks access. The lack and failure of infrastructure to meet the needs of an ever-growing population is a major challenge for the Big Island, as is currently the case in the capital.
55.8% of the population have access to blue gold by 2024. “Although there has been an increase of around 12% in six years, with a rate of 43% in 2018, there are still challenges to overcome, as almost 45% still do not have access to drinking water,” said the Minister of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (MEAH), Lalaina Andrianamelasoa, in Ambodivona.
Among the main problems that need to be solved with the support of partners and the various actors in the sector are the inadequacy and failure of infrastructure and lack of maintenance. In the case of Antananarivo, the water supply infrastructure is dilapidated and no longer able to meet the needs of the population.
However, the current infrastructure was designed for 300,000 people in the city of Antananarivo, which currently has almost 5 million users on the Antananarivo Interconnected Network (RIA).
“We should have expected this when the population of Antananarivo reached one million, but that was not the case. There is a huge shortfall of up to 100,000 cubic metres a day, because maximum production does not exceed 200,000 cubic metres, while demand exceeds 300,000 cubic metres,” said the head of MEAH.
The development work currently being carried out on the RIA takes into account the needs of the next generation, at least for the next ten years, not only in terms of infrastructure, but also in terms of maintenance and management strategy until 2050.
Focus on water for three days
The issues surrounding access to water, not only in the capital but throughout Madagascar, will be addressed during Water Week, which will take place from 16 to 18 April at the Stade Barea Mahamasina. Under the theme “Making the most of water resources for sustainable development”, the event aims to provide a platform for dialogue and action on pressing water-related issues, particularly in the current climate of climate change, which is affecting the availability and quantity of this vital resource.
The aim is to create synergies between key actors such as public authorities, donors, NGOs and civil society to identify sustainable solutions to improve access to water.
