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DINAs

The DINA is a traditional and uniquely Malagasy construct — a social contract. It is a social contract designed to manage potential sources of social conflict. A DINA demands each member of the community to adhere to it. It describes the situation or problem to be addressed, identifies the respective commitments of the various parties, and determines the sanctions to be applied in case of non compliance.

DINAs are widely applied in Madagascar and are legally recognised. More importantly, DINAs are anchored in custom and tradition, and render legal agreements culturally acceptable.

To manage natural resources and conservation zones, we set up a co-management agreement through a DINA in 2002 at Mandena. This agreement will be renegotiated soon to add additional elements of the livelihood and the new integrated DINA will be governed by a management committee of community and QMM representatives, and communal authorities. The DINA and committee will implement our integrated compensation programme (our environmental and social programmes) and ensure its pertinence to current and evolving realities.

The integrated compensation programme will not be a one way flow of entitlements. Its DINA will describe respective roles and responsibilities of the signatories. Reciprocity and shared responsibility are hallmarks of the Malagasy DINA, and of our approach to land use agreements.