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  Infobriefs reports on ongoing operational, economic and sector work carried out by the World Bank and
 its member governments in the Africa Region. It is published periodically by the Knowledge, Information
                              and Technology Center on behalf of the Region.




              Environment I Project (EPI) in Madagascar (1991-1995)



Objectives: To improve the environmental management capacity in Madagascar through the
implementation of institutional development and emergency actions.

Project components included: (i) protection and management of biodiversity; (ii) community-
based soil conservation and watershed management; (iii) mapping and remote sensing for
improved natural resources management; (iv) improved land security through cadastral surveys;
(v) environmental sensitization, education and training; and (vi) research and institution building
and reinforcement, (e.g., for natural forest management).

Impacts on the ground:

The Agence Nationale d'Actions Environnementales (ANAE) assisted in securing finance for 600
demand-driven micro-projects involving direct assistance to more than 20,000 households.

The Agence Nationale de Gestion des Aires Protégées (ANGAP) helped set up Integrated
Conservation Development Projects (ICDPs) in 20 protected areas.

A cadastral survey was conducted over nearly 200,000 hectares, and over 80,000 square km of
protected areas were aero-photographed.

The Office National de l'Environnement (ONE) ensured communication support and training and
was instrumental in formulating environmental policies tailored to various sectors (e.g., roads,
and forest management) involving communities, and in improving the regulatory framework
(e.g., decree on environmental impact assessments).
Lessons learned:

The EPI project approach was effective in developing demand-driven microprojects and in
strengthening partnerships between the Government of Madagascar, national and international
NGOs, and donors.

A stable political environment is critical to the project being effectively designed and
implemented. The lack of this element at that point of time resulted in the project's slow and
uneven take-off.

Local participation, integration of environmental concerns into national and local decision-
making, and multi-donor input at the design stage increased the effectiveness of the project. The
Environment II project under preparation seeks to incorporate such concerns more strategically
at the design stage.

Key Documents on Environment

World Bank, Toward Environmentally Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa,
1995 and the Building Block Series, December 1995.




World Bank staff on the Enterprise Network can access more examples of Best Practice as well
as information on the work done by the Africa Region on Environment by accessing the Region's
Environment Home Page. To access this page click on Netscape. Under "location" type
http://afr to get to the Africa Region's Home Page. Then click on Best Practices and select
Environment.

Persons accessing the World Bank's External Web Site http://www.worldbank.org can reach
FINDINGS and Best Practices Infobriefs by clicking on either Publications or Country/Project
Information
For more information on this specific study or copies, contact P.C. Mohan, Rm. J3-165, AFTDR,
World Bank, 1818 H Street NW, Washington D.C., 20433. Tel. (202) 473-4114 or INTERNET at:
pmohan@worldbank.org