The majority of rural areas in developing countries live in a state of chronic emergency, due for the most part to the lack of sanitary assistance and food. Covid-19 aggravates this situation, complicating the action of International Cooperation in these countries. To this extent, the case study of the Nosy Mitsio island (Madagascar) is presented. The partnership between H4O, Kukula and Politecnico di Torino aimed to develop the design of a water supply system on the island, providing water for vegetable gardens and thus allowing the local population to achieve food self-sufficiency. The project was supposed to be implemented in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic happened. However, despite this major obstacle, the design started with a literature review and the data analysis of soil and water samples collected from the island. The relationship between the Covid-19 pandemic and the project development highlights the central role of smart cooperation: i.e., engagement, inclusion and participation of local communities and their professional training is essential for remote working of NGOs projects during the pandemic.

The majority of rural areas in developing countries live in a state of chronic emergency, due for the most part to the lack of sanitary assistance and food. Covid-19 aggravates this situation, complicating the action of International Cooperation in these countries. To this extent, the case study of the Nosy Mitsio island (Madagascar) is presented. The partnership between H4O, Kukula and Politecnico di Torino aimed to develop the design of a water supply system on the island, providing water for vegetable gardens and thus allowing the local population to achieve food self-sufficiency. The project was supposed to be implemented in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic happened. However, despite this major obstacle, the design started with a literature review and the data analysis of soil and water samples collected from the island. The relationship between the Covid-19 pandemic and the project development highlights the central role of smart cooperation: i.e., engagement, inclusion and participation of local communities and their professional training is essential for remote working of NGOs projects during the pandemic.