2016-2017 Faculty Research Grant
Joel Raveloharimisy and Alexandra Raney (Behavioral Sciences)
Hungry for attention: The right to food in Madagascar.
The humanitarian imperative is to address human suffering wherever and whenever it is found. A human's right to food is fundamentally rooted in this principle. However, many states are unable to fulfill their obligations to their citizens.
This case study explores the problem of malnutrition in Madagascar, including the state's failure to respect, protect, and fulfill its citizens' right to food, and the failure of international humanitarian duty-bearers to respond to this national crisis.
Our research question addressed by this study will be: to what extent has the right to food been domesticated in Madagascar through policy and legislation that are relevant in addressing vulnerability to malnutrition during complex humanitarian emergencies? And subsequently, what institutional mechanisms and contingencies are in place to ensure that adequate food is available and accessible--with dignity--in time of complex humanitarian emergency in Madagascar?
To answer these questions, we propose a replication study that will assess the present policies, legislation, and institutional capabilities of the Malagasy government to ascertain whether they can assure the right to adequate food during disaster situations in Madagascar. To do this we will apply an analytical framework based on the human rights principles of participation, accountability, non-discrimination, transparency, and respect for human dignity.