Unemployment, lack of basic resources, and environmental changes are some of the main drivers of migration in Madagascar, resulting in complex migration trends both internally and transnationally. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, internal migration has been a key livelihood strategy and feature of Malagasy society. Internal migration in Madagascar, in contrast to other African countries, predominantly takes place between rural areas (both across and within regions), with 70 per cent of the population working in agriculture.

This assessment of the extent of migration mainstreaming into international cooperation and development in the rural and urban development sectors in Madagascar was undertaken in the framework of the IOM Mainstreaming Migration into International Cooperation and Development (MMICD) Project, funded by the European Union. The assessment comprises: (a) an analysis of Madagascar’s migration, displacement, and rural and urban development dynamics and governance arrangements; (b) an analysis of the extent to which the issue of migration and displacement is considered in rural and urban development policies and programmes; and (c) a set of conclusions and recommendations for successfully mainstreaming migration and displacement into the rural and urban development sectors of Madagascar.