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On September 22, 2023, a National Policy Workshop was held at the Novotel Hotel and Spa, Antananarivo, Madagascar, to disseminate research results of two papers under the Human Capital Development in Africa project organized by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), and the Research Centre, Centre de Recherche pour le Développement (CRD) of the Université Catholique de Madagascar (UCM).

AERC was represented by Dr. Mark Korir, Manager, Training, who opened the workshop and Ms. Sheila Lyaga, the Research Accountant. UCM was represented by Prof. Lambert Rakotoarisoa, Rector, Université Catholique de Madagascar; and Prof. Marilys Razakamanana, the Director, Centre de Recherche pour le Développement; while the Ministry of Finance was represented by Prof. Oliver Ramiandrisoa, the Directeur des Etudes et de la Modelisation Economiquesm, Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances. In attendance were representatives from the Ministries of Education, Health, Economy and Finance and development partners, UNICEF, CRS, RTM, and the National Nutrition Office, among others. The research focused on the relationship between access to healthcare and the health crisis in Madagascar, and the effects of the school canteen program on educational success in Madagascar. 

The results showed that individuals with familiar symptoms promptly sought medical treatment as a precautionary measure, whereas those with lesser-known symptoms avoided healthcare centers out of fear. Therefore, urgent action is required to enhance communication regarding the various symptoms of the health crisis and to train community health workers to diagnose cases during an epidemic or pandemic.

Results also showed that the school canteen program exhibits a constrained influence on the academic performance of students in Madagascar. Although the provision of a school canteen enhances students’ reading skills, it does not impact their mathematical proficiency. While the program’s effects were inconspicuous within public elementary schools, there was a marginal enhancement in academic outcomes among students attending private schools. The efficacy of the school canteen program is contingent upon various criteria associated with the socio-economic circumstances of the targeted students and the quality of education.