2010
AMBATOVY SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
35
Non-Transportation Infrastructure
Water Pumps
During the construction phase, the Project drilled wells and
installed water pumps along the pipeline for the communities
affected by runoff and sedimentation from construction. An
additional three existing pumps were rehabilitated. Ambatovy
also supported training on maintenance, organizational
capacity-building and money management, so that the
wells could be sustainably maintained by local water user
associations.
Anjoma Market
Previously, vendors in Toamasina sold market wares from
stalls along the main roads, which were already congested
with transport traffic going to and from the port. In 2010,
construction was completed on the new Anjoma Market,
which was handed over to the Municipality of Toamasina. By
the time of writing, the municipality had developed a detailed
management plan, the market had been inaugurated and
vendors were utilizing the facility.
Training Facilities
Ambatovy has cultivated relationships with local universities,
polytechnic schools and training centres in Antananarivo
and Toamasina to invest in local human capital. In 2009, the
Project supported physical infrastructure renovations and
investment in new equipment at institutions, such as the
University of Toamasina and the Alarobia Polytechnic School
in Antananarivo.
Ambatovy Redeployment Centre and
Local Employment Offices
A key program developed in 2010 is the Ambatovy
Redeployment Centre (
Bureau de Redéploiement de la Main
d’Oeuvre, BRMO
). The first BRMO opened in Toamasina
in May 2010 and a second in Moramanga in November
2010. The BRMO assists demobilized Malagasy workers
to access new jobs, specialized training or other income-
generating activities through ALBI. In addition, to support the
region of Atsinanana and the district of Moramanga, ALBI, in
collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, contributed to the
renovation of the Regional and District Employment Offices to
revive their activities. These offices are open to all local
job seekers.
Inflation Monitoring
The Project recognizes the risk that our activities could cause
inflation in local prices. With the influx of construction phase
workers, goods can become less available, pushing up prices
and putting pressure on the most economically vulnerable
people in the communities. Ambatovy has therefore
implemented internal monthly monitoring and analyses of the
prices of essential products in local markets. These studies,
along with national statistics, help ensure that Ambatovy
develops effective strategies to avoid and mitigate inflationary
pressures. Certain programs are also designed with this
concern in mind. For example, the purchasing centres buy
directly from producers, rather than from local markets,
helping to reduce upward pressure on market prices. Some
staff housing is provided by the Project to limit inflation in
the local housing and rental markets near Project sites. It is
noteworthy that during the critical construction years of 2009
and 2010, the inflation rate in Toamasina was significantly
below the national average.
Table 6: Inflation Comparison, Toamasinaand Madagascar
11
2009
2010
Madagascar
9.0%
9.2%
Toamasina
4.9%
6.4%
11
Inflation calculated using Consumer Price Indices for 2008- 2010, available from: Institute National de Statistiques.
Nouveaux indices des prix à la consumation : évolution depuis
janvier 2001
. Last modified 01 September 2011, Instat,
C2. Economic Performance
