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As part of the project “Human Capital Development in Africa,” funded by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), a policy dialogue was organized by AERC on September 27, 2024, at the Hotel Colbert in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

This dialogue was based on the results of two research studies conducted by the Research Center for Development (CRD) team from the Catholic University of Madagascar. The first research study addressed “Healthcare-seeking behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic,” while the second focused on “The effects of the school feeding program on academic performance.”

The objective of the policy dialogue was to spark discussions on the way forward, considering the results and policy recommendations from both studies.

For the first study, it was observed that individuals showing symptoms directly related to COVID-19 quickly seek medical treatment as a precaution, whereas those with less recognized symptoms avoid healthcare centers due to fear. Therefore, there is a need to improve communication about different symptoms during health crises and to train community health workers in diagnosing cases during epidemics or pandemics.

For the second study, the school feeding program has a limited impact on students’ academic performance in Madagascar. Analyses revealed that while the provision of school meals improves students’ reading skills, it has no statistically significant impact on their math skills. Furthermore, it was observed that although the program’s effects were not significant in public primary schools, an improvement in academic performance was noticeable among students in private schools. The effectiveness of the school feeding program also depends on various criteria related to the socio-economic situation of the targeted students and the quality of teaching.

During the roundtable, a policy brief with recommendations from both studies was presented by Dr. Phyllis Machio, a researcher at AERC and a senior lecturer at the University of Nairobi. For the rest of the session, policymakers discussed the political implications of the recommendations, their practicality, and acceptance. 

The Policy Dialogue was attended by representatives from various ministries and organizations. Among others, the Ministry of National Education was represented by Mr. Rakotoniaina Roger, Director DESIP,  the Ministry of Public Health by Mr. Andridherinjaio Amdo while the Ministry of Economics and Finance was Mr. Rakoto Dimby. AERC was represented by Prof. Abbi Kedir, Director of Research and Ms. Sheila Lyaga, Programme Administrator. The event was organized in collaboration with the Center for Development (CRD), which was represented by Mr. Oliver Ramiandrisoa.