Project Miarina
Enhancing Financial Resilience in Madagascar's Anosy Region
Project Miarina supports households and communities in the Anosy region of southeast Madagascar to strengthen their financial resilience and better prepare for future challenges. The name 'Miarina,' meaning 'bounce-back,' reflects the project’s goal: equipping communities with the skills and tools to withstand economic shocks and recover stronger.
For a region such as Anosy, characterised by less than 50% literacy and frequent economic hardships caused by environmental disasters, strengthening livelihoods, diversifying income sources, and improving financial decision-making are critical to building long-term resilience. Equipping communities with the skills to improve household budgeting, develop saving habits, and gain greater confidence in managing finances can significantly improve their capacity to withstand environmental disasters and 'bounce back' stronger.
SEED’s Response
Project Miarina aims to address recurring setbacks in rural livelihoods caused by climate and other external shocks. The project was developed after SEED identified a gap in its rural livelihoods programming, where households were repeatedly set back by adverse events despite ongoing support.
Project Miarina supports communities to build practical financial skills, develop saving habits, and strengthen community-led financial systems. The project is delivered in three stages. First, participants take part in financial literacy training designed to improve confidence in budgeting, saving, and household financial planning. Following this, participants can join introductory savings groups, providing a simple and low-risk way to begin saving money regularly.
In the final stage, groups become more independent through the election of community committee members who help manage the savings groups. Over time, this supports participants to strengthen financial decision-making, plan for the future, and build longer-term resilience to economic and environmental shocks.
Impact
To date, SEED has delivered its pilot financial literacy training to over 150 households. Participants found the training highly engaging, with participants already applying new financial management skills in their daily lives. SEED has also helped over 50 households form savings groups, promoting regular saving among members and strengthening community support networks. These groups continue to meet regularly as they work towards greater financial independence.
Next steps
Throughout the next phase, Project Miarina will continue expanding its community-based approach to financial resilience across SEED Madagascar’s wider livelihoods and community programmes, including Ala, Mahampy, Miatrika, Oratsimba, and Renitantely.
By strengthening financial knowledge, saving practices, and community support systems, the project aims to help households build greater stability and resilience for the future.
Donors
This project is kindly supported by the Aeonian Foundation.
