19 July 2024
Successful launch of the Indian Ocean Business Biodiversity Fund in Antananarivo, Madagascar
Press conference and announcement of winners
On Tuesday, July 16, 2024, the Varuna program, funded by Agence Française de Développement and implemented by Expertise France, unveiled the winners of the “Indian Ocean Business Biodiversity Fund ” call for projects at a press conference in Antananarivo, Madagascar. Aimed at companies and business federations in Madagascar, the Union of the Comoros, Mauritius and the Seychelles, this initiative, with a total budget of 2.5 million euros, aims to support projects led by economic players in partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs), in order to finance biodiversity-friendly actions in terms of preserving and restoring marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
Ten exemplary and economically viable projects have been selected for their potential to be replicated on a regional scale. Six of these projects are located in Madagascar, three in Mauritius, and one is being rolled out on a regional scale.
Selected projects in Madagascar
- Restoration of Mahajamba Bay :
o Company: Aquaculture de la Mahajamba (Aqualma UNIMA)
o Partner: WWF Madagascar
o Objective: Restore the dry forest ecosystem and secure its conservation by local communities.
o Grant: €240,000
- Preservation of indigenous forest species :
o Company: Bôndy
o Partners: Opti’Pousse Haie (OpH) and Association Vahatra
o Objective: Create a seed bank and promote the use of indigenous forest species.
o Grant: €61,630
- Forest conservation in the Analalava massif :
o Company: Floribis
o Partners: Association Nosy Maitso, Graine de Vie, and Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
o Objective: Save and rehabilitate the Analalava forest.
o Grant: €420,840
- Protection of the Bongolava Maintso Forest Corridor Protected Area :
o Company: Liverstock Feed Ltd
o Partners: Fikambanana Bongolava Maitso and Association Miarintsoa
o Objective: Preserve natural heritage threatened by clearing and encroachment.
o Grant: €322,440
- Coral transplantation on Ile aux Prunes :
o Company: Réfrigépêche
o Partner: Association Tany Ifandovana
o Objective: Transplant coral over an area of 1,000 m².
o Grant: €54,000
- Crab’osec project :
o Company: Sogédiproma
o Partners: : Centre National de Recherche Océanographique,Institut Halieutique et des Sciences Marines,, and Réseau National des Femmes de la Pêche à Madagascar
o Objective: Preserve mangrove ecosystems by promoting environmentally-friendly fishing practices.
o Grant: €151,675
Selected projects in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean
- Ecosystem integration of biodiversity :
o Company: Groupe Rogers
o Partners: Reef Conservation and Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture
o Grant: €500,000
- Restoration of Blue Carbon Ecosystems :
o Company: Odysseo
o Partners: Association pour le Développement Durable, Fondation Solidarité, and Attitude Foundation
o Grant: €414,179
- Ecological restoration of the Moka region :
o Company: ENL Agri
o Partner: Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
o Grant: €224,300
- Protection of soil biodiversity in Mauritius :
o Company: Regional Training Centre
o Partner: Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture
o Grant: €93,575
Launch workshop for Madagascan winners: July 17-18, 2024
A launch workshop was held on July 17 and 18, 2024, in Antananarivo, Madagascar, bringing together 30 participants, including representatives of the winning companies and their civil society partners. The workshop laid a solid foundation for the implementation of the selected projects, covering several key aspects:
– Presentation of projects and winners: Each company presented its project, objectives and expected impacts.
– Financial management: Practical advice on managing finances, including contractual obligations, grants and contracts.
– Monitoring-evaluation and communication: Monitoring-evaluation techniques and communication strategies.
Next steps
The next stage will take place in Mauritius, on August 7 and 8, 2024, with a new kick-off workshop for the Mauritian winners.
Follow the projects’ progress
To keep up to date with the progress of these projects and the next stages of the Indian Ocean Biodiversity Business Fund, follow our news here.
