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Madagascar News Brief for November 25, 2024 – VFS GLOBAL

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05:00

VFS GLOBAL

VFS Global replaces TLS Contact and is now responsible for visa applications for the United Kingdom. The VFS Global center in Antananarivo has been operational for a few weeks. Travelers submitting new visa applications on the UK Visas and Immigration website (GOV.UK) are automatically redirected to VFS Global to make an appointment to submit their documents. Since October, VFS Global has taken over UK visa services in 31 African countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, DRC, and Madagascar. Join our WhatsApp channel: https://bit.ly/3Ua8fMQ


07:00

TEENAGERS IN AFRICA

While regional trends in schooling and work have generally been positive, regional trends in marriage and childbirth have been mixed, according to the new report from the World Bank on “Pathways to Prosperity for Adolescent Girls in Africa”. Over the past 20 years, the percentage of girls aged 15 to 19 enrolled in school has increased in most African countries. Most African countries, but not all, have also seen a decrease in the proportion of girls who are out of school and exclusively working. Marriage rates have generally declined across all countries during this period. However, some countries have seen increases, including Madagascar, Niger, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. In Madagascar, 31.1% of adolescent girls have already started having children, and many do not have access to education or are married too young.


08:00

ILO

Fanfan Rwanyindo, Regional Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for Africa, is on an official visit to Madagascar since 24th November. As part of this visit, meetings with the Government, employers’ organizations, workers’ unions, and the United Nations Country Team in Madagascar are planned. Several events will also be included in her itinerary, including the official release of 67 disabled youth who have been trained for their socio-professional integration and an open day at the ILO to highlight the organization’s commitment to social justice and decent work in Madagascar.


10:00

VIDEO GAMES

GeS | Kimi, also known as Tsiaro Manuela, was crowned the African champion on Tekken 8 at the Kongo Esports Champions 2024. The African champion on Tekken 7 at the Swahili Esports Champions 2023 showcased flawless performance in this exclusively female tournament, once again demonstrating that Madagascar is among the best in Tekken in Africa. The Kongo Esports Champions took place during the Manga & Geek Days Festival at the French Institute in Kinshasa, in Kongo from November 22 to 24, 2024. The Tekken Africa Queens Challenge, a special women’s Tekken 8 tournament, saw the participation of the eight best African female players, from Congo Kinshasa, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon, Central African Republic, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, and Madagascar.


11:00

LOANS

Two bills authorizing the ratification of loan agreements related to the financing of the Financial Management Support Program and Economic Resilience, respectively concluded with the African Development Bank (ADB) and the African Development Fund (ADF), were adopted by the Deputies of Madagascar this Monday, November 25. These loans, amounting respectively to 176,151,600,000 Ariary and 117,434,400,000 Ariary, aim to support the state budget for the year 2024, contribute to economic recovery, and improve the management of the energy sector. The interest rates are particularly low, it is emphasized.


14:00

FIGHTING AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

On the occasion of the celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls and the beginning of the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” campaign, Abdou Dieng, Acting Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System, invites everyone to join forces and become allies in the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls in Madagascar. “Every effort invested in eliminating this scourge is a step towards a safer, more equal and prosperous world,” he emphasizes. According to estimates, more than one-third of women and girls aged 15-49 in the Great Island experience physical, sexual, or psychological violence from their husband, partner, or someone else, but only 15% have access to support services. These data are even more frightening since three in ten men and four in ten women think it is acceptable for a man to beat his wife. Madagascar is also one of the twenty countries in the world with the highest rate of child marriage, with 39% of women aged 25-49 already in union before the age of 18 – 12% before the age of 15.


16:00

CCIA-NEW PRESIDENT

Gil Razafintsalama is the new president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Antananarivo (CCIA). Gil Razafintsalama succeeds Rivo Rakotondrasanjy following the general assembly of the Chamber held on November 22. During his two-year term, the new president of CCIA intends to prioritize training and strengthening the capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises in order to enable them to access the market.


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