| GENERAL INFORMATION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT |
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Madagascar has undergone several changes in the field of local government over the past two decades. In the 1990s, constitutional adaptations were made to facilitate more autonomy and power for localities granting them legal status and financial autonomy. Institutional divisions were also changed. The former six provinces stemming from the French colonial period were disbanded in 2002 and made way for new faritra or regions in 2004 of which there are 22. Below the faritra, 116 districts were created to ensure the legal supervision over a total of 1557 townships divided into rural and urban ones. These townships are governed by an elected mayor who appoints village or fokontany leaders. The 16,969 fokontany form the administrative and executive backbone of the decentralized structure of Madagascar. Mayors are elected for a period of 4 years most recently in 2006 with the following elections tentatively planned for 2013.
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The structure of local government remained in existence after a change of power in 2009. The country is at the moment governed by the High Transitional Authority (HAT) under former opposition leader Andry Rajoelina. A constitutional revision was accepted in 2010 and new presidential elections planned for 2011. The most thorough changes in local government were the re-divisions of the country in the beginning of the twenty-first century. However other projects were also initiated such as a land reform scheme in which local communes and the central government experimented with new forms of property rights and the use of land. Other legislation was passed in respect to granting local government more specialized authorities, in fields such as environmental planning, infrastructure and the health sector.
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The future of local government in Madagascar remains to be determined in light of the recent political changes that have been occurring. Although many foreign countries have frozen relations with Madagascar the decentralization process was and is well entrenched throughout society and politics. International aid organizations are supporting Madagascar in strengthening humanitarian standards or supporting women to take an active role in local government in cooperative training projects with the Ministry of Decentralization. Although Madagascar’s primary focus is on re-stabilizing national politics commitment to local level politics is also required to continue the decentralization process and strengthening of local communities.
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Local Government Associations
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National Local Government Partners
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More information will follow.
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Regional Local Government Representation
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More information will follow.
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DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
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