Madagascar launches rice modernization project and faces healthcare hygiene challenges

The Madagascar government has launched the PAPRIZ 4 project to modernize the rice value chain, from production to marketing. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Madagascar and Japan, facilitated through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), following the signing of a Record of Discussion on August 31, 2026.

Separately, a joint report by the WHO and UNICEF indicates that Madagascar ranks third globally in terms of hygiene difficulties within healthcare facilities. The report highlights that 46% of health establishments in the country lack any hygiene services, placing Madagascar behind Sudan and Laos in these metrics.