China-Africa Forest Governance Learning Platform

An NGO Perspective from Madagascar on

CHINESE INVESTMENT AND TRADE

Ndranto RAZAKAMANARINA

CamerounJune 23, 2015

CONTENT

•The Madagascar context•Glimpse on Chinese history and activity in Mcar•Alliance Voahary Gasy (AVG), an inspiring solution •Our perceptions on Chinese investment and trade•Perspectives and Way Forward

Madagascar has been separated from Africa 100 million years ago. This isolation along with its large surface area favoured a unique evolution of the environment characterised by a high diversity of species, habitats and climates. It is also qualified as a « real microcontinent ».

Western Dry Forest

Southern dry Forest

Eastern moist Forest

The Madagascar context

Serious decrease of forest cover

Mainly from shifting cultivation and wood energy!2

20052000

199019701950

21.90%22.20%

23.30%34%42%

Forest

CHALLENGE: Minerals, gemstones and oil potentials overlapping with natural forests and protected areas

Regular political crisis Undermining effective development

WAVE 1: Colonisation (1897-1960) Labour for the railway construction Collector of local products (Cloves, Vanilla, coffee, etc…) 8.000 Cantonese Chinese (East Coast)

WAVE 2: Independance (1960-2008) Exporters of local products (Cloves, Vanilla, coffee, etc…) Restaurants Infrastructure construction (National road 2, Sport palace, etc…) Trade of Chinese items and clothings (Behoririka, supermarkets, etc…) 60.000 Chinese (Capital City and East Coast)

WAVE 3: Political crisis CRISIS (since 2009) Rosewood trafficking Collection and exports of wildlife (Cucumber sea, hippocampe, tc…) Industries (Oil, Gemstones, Minerls, Coal, Cotton, Sugar, Farming equipment,

etc…) 100.000 Chinese

Chinese history and activity in Madagascar

Alliance Voahary Gasy, an inspiring solution

“Establishment of a strong, respected and responsible environmental Civil Society coalition that contribute to the well-being of the Malagasy

people through a sustainable management of natural resources”

Disturbing ecosystems

Penetration in protected areas

A network of traffickersLavaka phenomenon

Madagascar in Peril: The rosewood mafia

Innovative and effective• A non political, independent and

national coalition that can serve as citizen and CBO spokesman, governance advocacy and administration watchdog for environmental protection and human needs

Evidence of implementation and impact• National and International recognition• Social Intelligence and credible

information• Promulgation of appropriate

regulations , Revamping of law enforcement and Reconsideration of Civil Society roles

Applied elsewhere or more broadly• Scaling-up in the regions: South West,

North and West.• Differentiation of International NGOs

and National CSOs’ role

An inspiring solution: AVG, a native but effective ECSO platform

11

TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL PARTNERS

Political Leadership and Law Enforcement

Economic Valuation and Corporate responsibility

Watchdog and

Public Participation

Assistance and CapacityTransfer

Good

Gover

nanc

e

GOVERNMENT

PRIVATE SECTOR CIVIL SOCIETY

The Triumvirate for Good Governance

Malagasy CSO perceptions• Unfair chinese competition: Most of the Chinese products compete with locally

produced goods. This has driven the formation of negative perceptions regarding the impacts of low-cost Chinese imports on Malagasy production.

• High level corruption: e.g. WISCO and the Soalala protected area

• Hidden actor: Many times, the chinese traders are not even visible. Locally , they may pay local labors and /or just distribute materials to extract diverse natural resources (Precious woods, gemstones, sea products , etc…).

• Bad and stingy employers: The new chinese migrants are also known by their harsh behaviour, beating employees or underpaying them

• Impossible communication: The new migrants make little effort to learn Malagasy; translators are often poor quality and even corrupt. This hinders negotiation, public consultation, etc.

Our perceptions on Chinese investment and trade

MADAGASCAR• Law enforcement : Access, appropriation, translation e.g. (MECIE and

CSER, LGIM, Mining Code, Protected area code, Environmental charter, forest legislation, land tenure, etc…)

• Priorities and Visions (Sustainable/Equitable Development vs Natural resources)

• Comprehensive, decentralized and strictly applied management plans (SEA, SRAT, RDP, etc…)

• Fight against corruption in the governance sectors (Justice, police, decentralistion, etc..)

• Ensure active engagement of civil society and local authorities (Accountability, public consultation, CSO for public utility, etc…)

Perspectives and Way forward

CHINA• Effective enforcement of environmental and social guidelines for overseas

investments (SFA, MEP, etc…), MOUs with host ministries (Translation in French or Malagasy)

• Strengthening cooperation on sustainable resources management (Green credit, ecotourism, etc…) and clean energy

• Obvious enforcement of the concept of ecological civilization overseas: Responsible investment but not profiting by Madagascar weaknesses (Poverty, standards and regulations)

• Knowledge and follow-up of chinese investors coming to Madagascar (both embassies?)

• Efforts to learn/understand Malagasy and the local cultures

Perspectives and Way forward

COMMON GROUND• Strict enforcement of social and environmental rules

• Efficient and equitable value chains: In-country processing

• Fair collaboration and information exchange on natural resources trafficking

• FOCAC for an effective and comprehensive implementation in Madagascar

• Success stories on Triumvirate for Good Governance (GPS= Gouvernment- Privé- Société civile)

Perspectives and Way forward

Misaotra betsaka!

www.alliancevoaharygasy.mgnrazakamanarina@hotmail.com