Feedback Madagascar / Ny Tanintsika

We found Feedback Madagascar on the internet; we emailed many non-government organisations in Madagascar asking if our skills and experience could be of use. We got a few responses. Some organisations wanted us to pay a large amount of money, others said they would like to host us, but didn’t have the capacity. Feedback said they would be happy to have us. Their simplified mission statement is ‘to contribute to rural poverty reduction and improving natural resource management in threatened biodiversity-rich areas.’ Particularly with Alex’s forest rehabilitation experience, Feedback advised they were in need of his knowledge.

From our observations of Feedback, it is an effective and efficient NGO. Their local organisation Ny Tanintsika employs an entirely Malagasy workforce. Feedback/Ny Tanintsika are acutely aware that community development and environmental conservation must go hand in hand. Any effort to preserve natural environments must take into account the people whose livelihoods are dependent on that place. Conversely, resources invested in reducing poverty must acknowledge that humans need natural resources to survive. This is the essence of Feedback’s work. 80% of Madagascar’s population lives on less than $1USD/day and many are subsistence farmers. Much of Feedback’s efforts are focused on supporting communities to alleviate poverty by pursuing viable alternative sources of income rather than unsustainable slash and burn agriculture (tavy). Feedback assists poor families with improved farming techniques and land management. Feedback employs local agroforestry technicians who assist these families through providing agricultural training, materials and advice for developing community seed banks. In turn, the locals support a community nursery and assist in site preparation and seedling planting days for reforestation projects. They also support communities to develop small businesses. Successful examples include silk worm harvesting, silk production and basket weaving.