Who are we?

MDF is a non-profit Non-Governmental Organization that finances small developmental projects throughout Madagascar. It carries out these charitable activities with impartiality and without regard for race, religion, or political affiliation.

Our Objectives

Education

To improve access to primary education by building, extending, and renovating state primary schools. Education helps eradicate poverty and hunger, giving people the chance at better lives. This is one of the biggest reasons why parents strive to make their kids attend school for as long as possible.

Health

To improve health care and sanitation by building Basic Health Centers. Your health is one of the most important things in your life. It affects your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. That's why it's so important to be proactive about your health and take steps to prevent illness and disease.

Water

To provide safe, clean water by installing water systems. Water is vital to our health. It plays a key role in many of our body’s functions, including bringing nutrients to cells, getting rid of waste, protecting joints and organs, and maintaining body temperature.

Environment and sustainable project

To reduce poverty by means of revenue-generating projects - environmental protection projects involving local communities. The importance of sustainable development is that it meets the needs of present generations without compromising on the needs of future generations.

366 projects have been financed to date (February 2025), including furnishing, constructing, extending, and/or renovating 192 state primary schools ; installing 121 safe, clean water systems ; building and equipping 21 Health Centers.

The Madagascar Development Fund (MDF) was founded by the former British Ambassador to Madagascar, Brian Donaldson, and received formal approval from the Malagasy authorities on July 2, 2008. MDF was created initially by British Embassy employees to replace a similar Scheme (Small Grants Scheme) funded by the UK Department for International Development and managed by the British Embassy in Antananarivo. Over a period of more than 10 years, the Small Grants Scheme financed hundreds of valuable developmental and poverty-alleviation projects – until the Embassy closed and the Scheme ended in August 2005.

Our Philosophy

All projects financed by MDF are initiated by poor communities themselves or local Associations working with them. MDF’s motto is “Let's build a better future together”. MDF attaches great importance to local community participation – to reduce costs, build local capacity, and encourage “ownership”. Local participation can include providing free labor and supplying locally available building materials such as sand, stones, gravel, and even water where it is not readily available.

MDF is dependent for funds on companies in Britain, Madagascar and elsewhere, charitable organisations, foreign governments, and generous individuals.

Donations made in the UK to the MDF are processed by Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services (LCVS) 151 Dale Street, Liverpool L2 2AH, a registered UK charity (N° 223485) and transferred by them to MDF’s bank account in Antananarivo.

Standard rate tax payers can increase their donations to MDF by 25 pence in the pound by completing a Gift Aid Declaration form. This additional revenue will enable MDF to :

- top up donations that fall short of project costs due to currency exchange rates

- fluctuations and increases in the cost of building materials;

- finance additional small projects, such as repairing a leaking classroom roof;

- buy classroom furniture.