The selection process for fifteen pilot communes to test a new local development approach was launched Thursday, July 30 in Antsirabe. The initiative is part of the "Local Governance" component of the "Tou-te-s Redevables" program, funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by Expertise France. The Territorial Approach to Local Development (ATDL) will be tested with these local authorities. At the end of the process, fifteen communes will be selected based on criteria presented as factual and transparent. The concerned communes will be mainly located along National Road 7, in the Vakinankaratra and Haute Matsiatra regions, as well as in the urban commune of Antsiranana. Selection criteria will focus notably on population size and density, with the objective of identifying territories where reforms can be evaluated at a significant scale. The ATDL is based on three main pillars: planning involving local stakeholders, support for financing project management by local authorities, and capitalizing on experiences deemed successful. According to program officials, the RN7 axis represents an experimental ground due to the urban changes it is experiencing and the challenges accompanying them, particularly regarding demographic pressure, land management, and access to public services. The inclusion of the urban commune of Antsiranana also broadens the representation of major cities involved in this pilot phase, alongside Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa, members of the Association of Major Cities of Madagascar (AGVM). This experimentation could ultimately serve as a reference for the National Plan for Decentralization and Local Development (PNDDL). The "Tou-te-s Redevables" program, launched in 2026 and part of the European Global Gateway strategy, provides support for public governance in Madagascar.