Located in the southwest of Madagascar, Toliara consistently scores among the lowest regions in Madagascar for human development indicators. The cycle of poverty here is reinforced by several critical factors:
According to the World Bank (Oct 2025), roughly 91% of the population in Southern Madagascar lives below the international poverty line.
UNICEF reports that approximately 49% of children in the Atsimo-Andrefana region live in “extreme multidi¬mensional poverty,” meaning they are deprived of at least four basic needs (e.g., nutrition, clean water, education, and health). More than two out of three children (67%) suffer material deprivation in at least two of these areas.
When food is scarce, school attendance (and thus literacy) is the first thing sacrificed. Literacy rates in the southwest are significantly lower than the national average; official statistics show that one in three adults in the Atsimo-Andrefana region cannot read and write, and female literacy is estimated as below 50% in some communities (although the Bishop and his team have confident literacy levels, some communities are even below the average.). Many children, particularly girls, are unable to complete primary school as they are needed to support household survival or fetch water. Thirst and/or the preoccupation with future thirst can negatively affect every aspect of life, including productive decision making and developmental progress.
Unlike the lush rainforests often associated with Madagascar, the Diocese of Toliara covers a large, semi-arid landscape and is defined by its harsh, dry climate. The region is frequently gripped by the Kere (severe famine), driven by consecutive years of failed rains often triggering an annual three-month hunger gap. Climate change has intensified these patterns, leading to prolonged droughts followed by intense, erosive sandstorms and occasional flash floods that destroy fragile crops.
For decades, development initiatives in Toliara have focused primarily on humanitarian aid to address frequent food insecurity and the risk of famine. While essential for immediate survival, this emergency intervention has inadvertently fostered a culture of dependency. Without a shift toward self-sustaining economic structures, communities remain unable to weather the next environmental or economic shock.
The Diocese of Toliara recognizes that for true transformation to occur, communities need the tools to build their own financial safety nets. By partnering with Five Talents, the Diocese aims to move away from aid dependency. Through the creation of savings groups, we are empowering families to grow their own resilience, diversify their livelihoods, and break the cycle of poverty through their own hard work and ingenuity.
"We are thrilled that Five Talents will be partnering with the church in Madagascar. Many nonprofits go to the most convenient places and unfortunately don't go to some of the most difficult countries. Madagascar has been called, 'The Forgotten Island.' As former missionaries there, we have seen the incredible challenges people face that has led to this title. Perhaps someone has heard of it because of the movie or maybe playing the game of Risk, but the country is easily pushed out of our minds. Partnering with the Diocese of Toliara allows Five Talents to go the extreme - truly reaching the poorest of the poor."
-Rev. Patsy McGregor
Over the years, we’ve discovered a wealth of treasure in the Parable of the Talents. That’s why we’ve prepared this free guide to Matthew 25, featuring reflections from pastors and Christian leaders.
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