Rapid Rural Transformation

The Vohitsova community in Madagascar is one of the new sites that have the Rapid Rural Transformation (RRT) hub which aims to address the issue of unemployment that affects millions of people, especially the youth and women, in rural areas across many low income countries. However, the project team lacks post-installation funding of activities linked to the nexus of water, energy, and food to accelerate economic development in the community. Further, the women in this village face significant barriers that limit their ability to participate and benefit equally from profitable economic activities.

The WFP Rapid Rural Transformation hub in Vohitsova, Madagascar, tackles high unemployment among specific demographic groups with limited access to economic activities, in particular youth and women. The innovation achieves this by providing multi-pronged support, integrating food systems, water and energy access through the supply of food processing equipment and training, as well as irrigation and solar power facilities to drive economic growth.

Rapid Rural Transformation directly reached 1,352 unique individuals through the provision of goods and services under the Rapid Rural Transformation innovation in Vohitsova. This includes: 42 climate-smart farmers, 122 livestock breeders, and 34 local committee members who received direct training, inputs and access to productive infrastructure such as the greenhouse and the future cheese unit. The 1,352 individuals living in Vohitsova benefit directly from access to electricity and clean water services provided through the Rapid Rural Transformation solar hub. Another 2,000 individuals living outside of Vohitsova also access the services and market-related activities on occasion.