AID grant no. PCE-5053-G-00-3054-00 to Clark Atlanta University in support of its proposal, entitled `Proposal to examine the relationships between women, development and the environment in rural Madagascar", dated April 29, 1993

The research will be conducted in collaboration with the University of Toamasina. The objective of the research is explain how environmental degradation is related to the agricultural practices of village women and explore the impact of a rural project on such a relationship. Villages with a USAID project will be compared to a control village with respect to women"s: (1) assessments of their needs for food, fuel, water, and other essential items from the environment; (2) environmental/ecosystem knowledge and management practices; (3) social roles and status; (4) knowledge of micro and macro environmental conditions/policies; and (5) socioeconomic and political status. It is hoped that the research findings will help to: improve the design and implementation of USAID grassroots projects targeting women; identify means of achieving sustainable, environmentally sensitive agricultural development; and improve the fit between rural women"s food security efforts and macro and micro environmental policy to prevent environmental degradation.