Et les garçons? reflections on Unicef Program for girls post-primary education in Madagascar

Abstract

Based on a fieldwork in three districts of rural Madagascar (Sofia, Analanjirofo and Atsimo Atsinanana), this paper aims at investigating the practices and ideologies of a national Program for girls secondary education promoted by Unicef and implemented by three local NGOs. By establishing a system of scholarships, mentoring activities and boarding houses for girls under the umbrella of “girls friendly schools”, the Program seeks to bridge the gap between boys and girls enrolment in secondary education. The paper explores which kind of gender equity concept is promoted through the Program and how it interacts with local realities where traditional marriages (“moletry”) as well as sexual tourism work as old and new social norms on gender relationships. Finally, the contribution shows how everyday project practices may produce unexpected side-effects.