Madagascar
The Problem
In southeastern Madagascar, a lack of resources forces rural communities to rely on their natural environment for daily survival, leading to environmental degradation that drives a high disease burden. Inadequate sanitation infrastructure leaves communities without access to clean drinking water and exposure to diarrheal diseases, while deforested land creates the standing water habitat where malaria-carrying mosquitoes breed.
Our Solution
We reforest degraded landscapes, focusing on coffee-centric agroforestry, to reduce the spread of diarrheal diseases and malaria. Planting coffee and other trees restores the land's ability to absorb water, reducing both the standing water where mosquitoes breed and the flooding that spreads waterborne illness, all while creating premium fair-wage economic opportunities for these rural communities.
Fractile Institute's work in Madagascar
2.5
Acres being actively reforested in the Farafangana district, SE Madagascar
2x
We pay farmers double the local wage
100%
Of profits from coffee sales are reinvested into clean water infrastructure
How deforestation drives disease
Forest cleared
Soil loses ability to absorb rain
Runoff pools
Standing water accumulates
Mosquitoes breed
Malaria habitat thrives
Flooding spreads
Contaminated water causes diarrheal disease
Disease burden rises
Malaria + diarrhea devastate communities
Our approach: Reforestation as medicine
We're planting a polyculture of coffee, bonara, banana, and pigeon pea on deforested land. Tree canopy intercepts rainfall, root systems increase soil infiltration, and evapotranspiration returns water to the atmosphere. Less runoff means less standing water, fewer mosquitoes, and reduced malaria transmission, while also reducing the flooding that spreads contaminated water and drives diarrheal disease.
How reforestation heals
Trees planted
Canopy intercepts rainfall
Water absorbed
Roots increase infiltration
Less standing water
Fewer mosquitoes + less flooding
Disease reduced
Lower malaria + diarrheal burden
Fair-wage jobs
2x the going rate for local workers
Support the mission
Donations directly support reforestation that improves health, fair-wage jobs, and clean water infrastructure in southeastern Madagascar.
Fractile Institute is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
All donations are tax-deductible.