Strengthening land governance in Madagascar

The International Land Coalition (ILC) Africa is proud to highlight a new partnership between the Project to Support Development in the Menabe and Melaky Regions - Phase II (AD2M-II), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Smallholder Integrated Farming hatra Iombonana hoan'ny Fananantany / Solidarité des Intervenants sur le Foncier (SIF), which serves as the host of the National Land Coalition (NLC) platform in Madagascar. This collaboration, formalised by a Memorandum of Understanding signed on August 18, 2025, marks a pivotal step in advancing land tenure security and inclusive governance in the Menabe and Melaky regions. This strategic alliance reflects a shared commitment to empowering communities, resolving land conflicts, and promoting sustainable rural development in the country.

ILC-IFAD collaboration: A history of impact

IFAD has been a long-standing partner and co-founder of the International Land Coalition (ILC) since its establishment in 1995 and currently serves as its host. In 2022, ILC, in collaboration with IFAD’s Land Tenure Department, developed a joint roadmap for the period 2022–2025. This roadmap aims to contribute to strategic objectives, including knowledge generation, sustainable country-level impact, and regional policy engagement. This collaborative model has successfully channelled technical and financial support directly through National Land Coalitions in countries like Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The support, overseen by ILC’s 'One Team' approach, ensures effective implementation and impact. Uganda channelled and Madagascar.

SIF’s role in advancing land reforms in Madagascar

SIF, a platform representing a network of grassroots organisations, is the lead implementing partner for this project. The International Land Coalition (ILC) chose to support SIF's existing network rather than creating a new National Land Coalition (NLC) at this time. SIF is also a key civil society organisation that will be part of a Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) for land, which various development partners are supporting the Ministry of Lands in formalising. The contract for this partnership was signed directly by SIF.

Building on its mission to "connect land activists, defend land rights, mobilize actors... to influence political dialogues... in favor of land security in Madagascar", SIF is spearheading efforts to address land issues in Madagascar through the following initiatives:

Expected impacts

This partnership is expected to have a significant impact on land governance in Madagascar by contributing to:

• The peaceful resolution of land conflicts through structured mediation.
• Increased awareness and empowerment of rural communities regarding land rights.
• Strengthened governance structures and stakeholder collaboration.
• National-level policy influence through evidence-based advocacy.

Why this partnership matters

This partnership is designed to contribute directly to the implementation of the ILC-IFAD Roadmap and the broader land reform process in Madagascar. The collaboration between the AD2M-II project and SIF aims to achieve several key outcomes, including:

• Establishing a land mediation mechanism and a land advocacy and communication kit.
• Providing training and sensitisation for a variety of stakeholders through regional and national dialogues.
• Analysing and discussing existing land structures and platforms to improve land governance.
• Advocating for land reforms based on the experiences of the AD2M project and SIF.

This partnership is a testament to how ILC and IFAD can work together to secure land rights and encourage other countries to follow a similar path. A final report will be created to consolidate all activities, outcomes, and lessons learned, serving as a valuable resource for future land governance initiatives in Madagascar and beyond. Stay tuned for further updates as this partnership transforms land governance in the country.