The Malagasy delegation presented its climate financing ambitions at an international summit bringing together major donors, held in Thailand. As one of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries, this proactive approach marks a new step in Madagascar's strategy to mobilise green capital.
Madagascar on the front line of climate change
The island is regularly struck by devastating cyclones, severe droughts and floods. The economic costs of these climate events represent a significant drain on GDP each year. According to the African Development Bank, Madagascar must integrate climate resilience into its entire development financing strategy — which already requires $7.27 billion per year by 2030.
An active diplomatic agenda
The Malagasy presence at the Thailand summit is part of a more intensive economic diplomacy agenda. Antananarivo is multiplying contacts with multilateral and bilateral donors to secure concessional financing and climate adaptation technology transfers. Priority sectors include resilient agriculture, solar energy, water management and coastal ecosystem protection.
Climate financing still falling short
Despite these efforts, climate financing flows to Madagascar remain well below estimated needs. International mobilisation for climate finance for vulnerable countries, promised at successive COPs, is slow to materialise at the required scale. The challenge is twofold: negotiating larger volumes and improving national absorption capacity to turn funds into operational projects.
Why this matters
For Indian Ocean economic players, Madagascar's climate resilience is not just a humanitarian issue — it is a commercial and investment challenge. A more climatically stable Madagascar is a more attractive Madagascar for investments in agriculture, tourism and extractive industries. The region has every interest in supporting these climate financing efforts that consolidate stability across the island arc.