APPROPRIATE GOVERNANCE MODEL FOR THE SYNERGY OF WELL-BEING BETWEEN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS

management

Although rural-urban migration strongly contributes to the demographic growth of urban centers, the rapid urbanization observed in Madagascar does not necessarily lead to improved living conditions for the affected populations. While rural areas are being depleted of their active population and suffer from poor infrastructure, urban centers struggle to absorb this demographic pressure, resulting in service saturation, increasing urban poverty, and stagnant economic development. What governance strategies can be implemented to ensure a synergy in well-being between rural and urban areas? In response to this issue, the objective of this study is to structure socio-economic and environmental factors that foster well-being synergy between urban and rural populations. How can these factors be organized to effectively promote such synergy? The working hypothesis posits that territorial configuration must integrate specific development factors to ensure a synergy in well-being between rural and urban environments. A systemic approach was adopted using a survey conducted in the district of Anjozorobe, involving 300 households across three communes: Mangamila, Anjozorobe, and Ambongamarina. A hierarchical classification of variables and an analytical model tracking the evolution of development and well-being factors enabled the formulation of a territorial synergy strategy. The results reveal significant disparities: poor infrastructure in remote rural areas, pressure and stagnation in urban zones, and an unstable balance in peri-urban areas. The most critical factors identified for achieving well-being synergy include access to healthcare, access to water, and satisfaction with administrative services. Prospective modeling highlights distinct developmental trends across communes, reinforcing the necessity of locally adapted responses. The study therefore proposes a model of integrated and participatory governance, emphasizing the strengthening of local capacities, targeted investment in infrastructure, and close coordination between rural and urban policies, to foster inclusive, sustainable, and balanced territorial development.

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