Reports on Emergency Food Distribution in Madagascar

Project Report | Aug 14, 2026
Breaking the Cycle of Malnutrition

By Betty Gisore | Grants and Administrative Assistant

A nutritious meal during a PD care group

From October 2023, a total of 7,899 children have been treated for Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) with Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) over the course of eight treatment cycles, screening an average of 24,644 children per round. As a result of rigorous follow-up and evidence-based programming, the project has achieved an overall recovery rate of 95.8%, with a peak recovery rate of 98.8% during the most recent distribution round.

In addition, a total of 151 children have recovered through the implementation of community led Positive Deviance (PD) pilots, an approach that identifies and scales existing successful practices within communities. 22,391 caregivers have been reached through social behaviour change (SBC) sessions to strengthen household-level nutrition, health, and hygiene practices, 33,664 family members received protective food rations to support household food security, and 19 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and medical complications were supported to access life-saving specialist care along with their families.

These results reflect more than statistics; they represent life-saving support for a generation of children in the Anosy region who would otherwise face irreversible harm from acute malnutrition. Left untreated, acute malnutrition can leave permanent consequences: stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and long-term vulnerability to disease

These recovery rates show that timely, well-resourced intervention can break this cycle before that damage occurs. Continued support, however, remains critical. The latest FEWS NET 2026 analysis projects a deterioration in food security across southern Madagascar from October 2026 as household food stocks are expected to be depleted earlier than usual and the anticipated El Niño event delays the onset of the rainy season, with 1.5–2.0 million people expected to require humanitarian food assistance between June 2026 and January 2027.

For the remainder of 2026, SEED will continue its holistic, community-driven approach to addressing malnutrition in close collaboration with Health clinic staff (CSBs), Community Health worker (Acs), the Ministry of Health (MoH), and community members. Building on community feedback and lessons learned, the upcoming activities will be refined to enhance effectiveness and respond to the evolving needs of participants during the final six months of the project.

To meet immediate nutritional needs, SEED will continue the treatment of 1,311 children with MAM during the project’s eighth round of distribution, targeting a minimum recovery rate of 90% among treated children. In areas with exceptionally high rates of MAM and SAM, 984 families will receive food parcels containing rice, beans, and oil. In parallel, SEED will also provide a second round of deworming tablets to 6,825 children aged 12-59 months in November 2026. To support long-term behaviour change, SEED will continue to support ACs in the delivery of SBC sessions, focusing on nutrition, health, and WASH practices. This support will include an additional refresher training to strengthen the knowledge and facilitation capacity of newer ACs.

Thank you so much for your continued support

caregivers in Itapera attend a RUSF distribution

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Apr 16, 2026
Strengthening Nutrition in Southern Madagascar

By Betty Gisore | Grants and Administrative Assistant

Positive Deviance Session

Food security in southern Madagascar remains highly fragile, driven by recurring climatic shocks, locust infestations, and persistent inflation. According to recent IPC analyses, 558,000 children under five are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition between May 2025 and April 2026, including over 155,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition. Food insecurity is also worsening, with up to 1.64 million people expected to face Crisis-level conditions or worse by early 2026, even during the harvest period. Declining purchasing power, limited market access, and weakened livelihoods continue to exacerbate vulnerability, particularly in remote areas such as Taolagnaro district.

In response, SEED’s Project Miatrika has continued delivering integrated nutrition interventions across 136 communities in the Anosy region. Between January and December 2025, the project conducted three large-scale screening rounds, reaching over 72,000 children. A total of 3,285 children with moderate acute malnutrition were enrolled in treatment, achieving a high recovery rate of 96.3%. Children with severe conditions were referred to health centres, with additional support provided to access specialised care where needed.

To strengthen household resilience and protect treatment outcomes, 2,821 families received emergency food support, particularly following Tropical Storm Jude. Preventative measures included the distribution of micronutrient supplements to over 9,000 children and caregiver training on early detection using MUAC strips.

Capacity building remained central to the project, with 272 community health workers and 22 health staff receiving training to improve identification, treatment, and referral of malnutrition cases. Social behaviour change activities reached over 7,000 participants, promoting improved feeding, hygiene, and health practices. The Positive Deviance approach further demonstrated strong results, with 89% of participating children recovering and sustained improvements observed over time.

Overall, Project Miatrika continues to play a critical role in addressing acute malnutrition while strengthening long-term community resilience.

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Dec 17, 2025
Emergency Food Distribution Project Update

By Betty Gisore | Grants and Administrative Assistant

Dancers at World Breastfeeding Week Campaign

The Emergency Food Distribution project continued to deliver critical nutrition and community health interventions aimed at reducing acute malnutrition among children under five. As part of the fifth round of Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) distribution, 1,205 children diagnosed with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) received treatment, achieving a strong recovery rate of 96%. In addition, 115 children recently discharged from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) treatment at the health clinic were provided with RUSF support to prevent relapse, strengthening continuity of care for vulnerable children.

Community-based screening activities conducted in September identified 1,093 children with acute malnutrition, including 942 cases of MAM. In total, 25,555 children aged 6–59 months were screened for malnutrition across the intervention areas, demonstrating the project’s extensive outreach and early detection capacity.

Complementary Social Behaviour Change (SBC) activities were implemented to address underlying health and hygiene factors contributing to malnutrition. Three SBC sessions were delivered, focusing on childhood vaccination, antenatal care attendance, and proper handwashing practices. These sessions aimed to improve caregivers’ knowledge and promote preventive health behaviours at the household level.

Positive Deviance (PD) approaches were further reinforced through two rounds of household visits and focus group discussions with participating mothers. These activities strengthened the adoption of locally appropriate caregiving and feeding practices introduced during earlier PD workshops, supporting sustainable behaviour change within the community.

To enhance implementation capacity, three additional Senior Community Liaison Officers were recruited during the period. Capacity-building efforts also included training 22 health clinic staff on the updated national malnutrition protocol, ensuring alignment with national standards of care. In addition, one community awareness campaign marking World Breastfeeding Week was successfully conducted in Ankaramena, promoting optimal infant and young child feeding practices.

Overall, the project continues to demonstrate strong performance in treatment, prevention, and community engagement to address acute malnutrition in vulnerable populations.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our supporters and partners whose continued commitment and generosity make these life-saving interventions possible.

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