Kenya and Madagascar deepen cooperation to build Inclusive and sustainable value chains

The partnership, rooted in mutual learning and solidarity, reached a new high in June 2025 when a Kenyan delegation visited Madagascar for a pivotal exchange mission focused on sustainable value chains, decent employment, and enhanced market access.

The week-long mission, held in Antsirabe, was organized by the ILO offices in Antananarivo and Dar-es-Salaam. It brought together key actors from government, the private sector, and development institutions to assess progress since the initial exchange in Naivasha, Kenya, in December 2024. While that earlier workshop had laid the groundwork, the Madagascar mission offered the Kenyan team a more comprehensive look at how inclusive export systems function in practice particularly within Madagascar’s cooperative networks and aggregation models.

© ILO

© ILO

One of the most impactful elements of the Antsirabe visit was the field-based learning, the Kenyan delegation toured the FIFAMANOR seed production centre in Andranomanelatra, where they observed innovative agricultural practices that support productivity and climate resilience. They also engaged directly with three cooperatives working in partnership with Natura Madagascar in Antsirabe. These visits revealed how community-based enterprises in Madagascar are contributing to export-ready value chains while upholding social and environmental standards.

A key highlight of the exchange was the in-depth look at the Lecofruit aggregation model, which has successfully linked smallholder farmers to international markets while ensuring traceability, quality assurance, and fair labour practices. For the Kenyan delegation, the model offered not just inspiration, but concrete lessons on how to scale similar systems back home.

© ILO

© ILO

Beyond field visits, the mission included a high-level dialogue with the European Union delegation in Madagascar. The discussions explored how triangular cooperation could bring additional technical and financial support to the Kenya-Madagascar collaboration, further enhancing its reach and impact. The potential involvement of a third partner signalled a shift toward deeper integration and sustainability of the initiative, aligning well with the global development agenda.

The Antsirabe workshop also served as a strategic review of the action plans developed during the Naivasha workshop. Delegates exchanged updates on progress made and explored new avenues for connecting SMEs and cooperatives to demanding international markets, such as the Rungis wholesale market in France. Public-private partnerships were identified as critical to sustaining momentum and scaling up successful models.

Throughout the mission, a strong spirit of mutual respect and knowledge-sharing prevailed, with the Kenyan delegation commending Madagascar’s openness and organizational capacity, while Malagasy counterparts reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration. The ILO praised both countries for embracing the principles of South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) and promoting a development model rooted in solidarity and shared expertise. This exchange not only built upon the foundation laid in Kenya but also highlighted Madagascar’s role as a key source of practical solutions and policy innovation in the horticulture sector. As the SSTC initiative advances, Kenya and Madagascar are forging a dynamic partnership that blends local ingenuity, regional cooperation, and global ambition. Together, they are transforming the vision of inclusive and sustainable value chains into a reality, offering lasting benefits for workers, farmers, and communities, an inspiring example of how collaboration across the Global South, with support from international partners, can drive meaningful and enduring change.