The African Development Bank Group, UNICEF and the Government of Madagascar signed a US $1-million grant agreement to fund rehabilitation of social infrastructure in the country following the devastating cyclones Giovanna and Irina, which hit the country in February. The signing took place on August 23 in Brickaville, about 250 km east of Antananarivo.

The AfDB's emergency assistance aims to finance the reconstruction of 34 classrooms and three health centres, each equipped with latrines and a water supply. The project will be implemented in close collaboration with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the country's national risk management and disaster services office, alongside its health and education ministries.

Madagascar's Finance Minister Hery Rajaonarimampianina, AfDB Resident Representative Abdelkrim Bendjebbour and Ali-Salad Sabrie of UNICEF co-signed the agreement at a ceremony attended by the country's health and education ministers and community representatives. The signing was followed by a tour of infrastructure damaged by the two tropical storms in Brickaville.