From cyclones to cooperation: the case for a disaster treaty in Madagascar

This publication explores how recurring cyclones and other climate-related hazards are intensifying risks in Madagascar, causing widespread damage to infrastructure, livelihoods, and food security. Despite progress in disaster risk management, including improved coordination and community-based initiatives, recent events have exposed persistent gaps in preparedness, response capacity, and the protection of vulnerable populations. These repeated shocks continue to strain national systems and highlight the country’s high exposure to climate change.

The findings underline that a proposed international disaster treaty could significantly strengthen cooperation, coordination, and legal frameworks for disaster risk management. By clarifying roles, improving information sharing, and facilitating faster international assistance, such a framework would help reduce response delays and operational bottlenecks. It could also reinforce long-term resilience by embedding disaster risk reduction as a legal obligation, ensuring more inclusive, efficient, and proactive approaches to managing increasingly frequent and severe climate-related disasters.