First international cooperation trip for Isabelle Berro-Amadeï

Visite de travail d’Isabelle Berro-Amadeï à Madagascar. Avec les enfants bénéficiaires du GRET ©DR

From 26 March to 2 April 2022, a Monegasque delegation* led by Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, visited Madagascar to hold discussions with the Malagasy authorities, to open a food factory in the south of the country, and to meet the partners working with Monaco’s Department of International Cooperation. The working visit provided an opportunity to sign the first general framework agreement on cooperation between the two countries.

While in Madagascar, the Monegasque delegation was able to strengthen links with the country’s authorities, holding meetings with the President of Madagascar Andry Rajoelina as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Richard Randriamandrato and Minister of Public Health Professor Zely Arivelo Randriamanantany.

The visit was a chance to review the special partnership that Monaco has with the leading country in its international cooperation programme, which is facing some very significant challenges, particularly in relation to food security.

During site visits and working meetings, a range of projects and programmes in the fields of food security, health, child protection, entrepreneurship and support for civil society in Madagascar were discussed. Meetings were held with the World Food Programme, the Institut Pasteur, GRET and local associations such as SISAL, whose health centre for people living with HIV is supported by Fight Aids Monaco, an international solidarity organisation.

The highlights of the trip included the renewal of the 2016 Sectoral Agreement on Health with the Ministry of Public Health at the National Malaria Control Centre built by Monaco in Antananarivo.

At the invitation of Alain Mérieux, President of the Mérieux Foundation, and in the presence of Madagascar’s President, Andry Rajoelina, and the First Lady, the Monegasque delegation also visited the Nutrisud factory, which was officially opened on 1 October last year in Fort-Dauphin, in south-eastern Madagascar. This marked the launch of the Mitombo project, which will enable the production of local food supplements for those working to prevent malnutrition in the Androy and Anosy regions in southern Madagascar. A memorandum of understanding was signed, reaffirming the excellent partnership between the Mérieux Foundation and the Prince’s Government.

While in Madagascar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation was able to chat to two young International Volunteers of Monaco currently posted to the island to support local partners.

* The Monaco delegation comprised: Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Cyril Juge, Honorary Consul General of Monaco to Madagascar, Niry Rabemanolontsoa, Vice-Consul, Bénédicte Schutz, Monaco’s Special Representative for International Cooperation, Sophie Robin, Madagascar Programme Manager, Natacha Tang, Country Coordinator, Myriam Landau, Health Advisor, Charlotte Dolfer, Assistant Programme Manager, Soafara Raonimanga, Project Lead, and Livio Totozafy, Trainee.

Visite de travail d’Isabelle Berro-Amadeï à Madagascar. Institut Pasteur de Madagascar ©DR

Three questions for Isabelle Berro-Amadeï - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

Madam Minister, you are just back from your first official trip with the Department of International Cooperation. What impressions did you take away from this working visit to Madagascar?

This first official trip was a memorable milestone in my new role as a government minister. That it was to Madagascar, the leading country in the Prince’s Government’s international cooperation programme, gave it even greater significance. Over the course of a week, the Monegasque delegation visited the civil, public and private partners who are working on the projects we support, as well as the beneficiaries of these projects. I was particularly touched by the welcome I received, and by the kindness and resilience shown by the people of Madagascar. I would like to pay tribute to the unwavering dedication of our Consul General in Madagascar, as well as the work and tremendous commitment of the teams from the Department of International Cooperation, both back at home and locally. I will retain very fond memories of the meetings I had during my visit, directly with the beneficiaries of the projects we support, notably the street children at the Centre NRJ, with the leaders of local NGOs such as Projet Jeunes Leaders and, of course, with the International Volunteers of Monaco, who made the decision to go out into the field to work in international solidarity.

What have been your highlights of this visit?

The diplomatic highlight was of course the signature of the first Framework Cooperation Agreement, an agreement on which teams from both countries have been working for a long time. I am delighted and proud that our relationship with Madagascar has now been formalised. I would also note the renewal of the Agreement on Health at the National Malaria Control Centre, built by the Principality of Monaco, and the visit to the Nutrisud factory. I should stress that none of these events were an end in themselves; they were first and foremost grounded in reality, with a genuine impact in terms of helping the most vulnerable.

Going beyond the diplomatic aspect, I will remember the kindness, goodwill and generosity of the people of Madagascar and the various people I met, who are working tirelessly and with conviction to support the men, women and children who are most in need.

On that note, what is the situation in terms of food security?

Food insecurity affects 1.64 million people in the south of Madagascar alone, and half of children under five years of age are suffering from stunted growth. It is important to note that Madagascar is the first country in the world where the current – and unprecedented – famine, following two consecutive years of drought, has been recognised by the United Nations as being directly linked to climate change. With this in mind, the Principality’s support for the Mérieux Foundation to build the factory producing local food supplements in Fort-Dauphin is absolutely vital to vulnerable groups in southern Madagascar, particularly children.

Visite de travail d’Isabelle Berro-Amadeï à Madagascar. Nutrisud ©Fitia