06:00
FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The French Development Agency (AFD) and the consortium of NGOs IECD-International Initiative have signed a partnership agreement regarding the implementation of the Mamoa project, a component of the Itovia program of the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM) dedicated to reducing structural and socio-cultural barriers to female entrepreneurship. Mamoa will be implemented by IECD-International Initiative and Madagascar Business Development (MED) in three regions, namely Analamanga, Vakinankaratra, and Haute Matsiatra. The program benefits from a €4.8 million grant from AFD and will be supported in 2025 by the European Union as part of the ACTE program. Through this project, 40 support and mentoring structures for female entrepreneurs will benefit from sustainable capacity building. Technical training in entrepreneurship and social and psycho-social support will also be provided for over 1,500 female entrepreneurs. Mamoa also includes the creation of a dedicated Falbab for agri-food entrepreneurs in Antsirabe, improving access to markets for SMEs in the sector, the establishment of a social incubator in Fianarantsoa, and entrepreneurship awareness programs for rural communities, as well as support for a local support and financing system for entrepreneurs in startup and development stages through the establishment of local honor loan associations.
12:00
GREEN DIPLOMACY
The “green diplomacy house” was inaugurated this Wednesday, December 18 in Ampandrianomby, within the premises of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MEDD). The financing agreement for the Famindra – Faritra Arovana Mirindra program was also signed on this occasion. The “green diplomacy house”, funded by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), aims to strengthen Madagascar’s position as a country of action and solutions in the face of environmental challenges. It will help coordinate environmental initiatives while consolidating the country’s international presence in the face of climate issues. This strategic center will be used to organize multisector consultations and prepare harmonized positions for international negotiations related to the environment and sustainable development, explains the MEDD. As for Famindra, it is a strategic program carried out in partnership with the European Union within the framework of the Global Gateway’s “Green Deal” initiative. This project, funded with 35 million euros, aims to improve the sustainable management of protected areas and natural resources.
13:00
EXHIBITION “LAMBA MADAGASCAR”
The exhibition “Lamba Madagascar”, open since December 15, 2024 in Saint-Denis, on the island of La Réunion, honors the cultural richness of Madagascar through a selection of 150 historical photographs dating back to the 1930s. Organized by the Museum of Photography of Madagascar, the exhibition invites visitors to discover the cultural values of the “Lamba”, a key element of the Malagasy dress code, according to the National Tourism Office of Madagascar (ONTM). The photographs, captured by Ramilijaona, Joseph Razafy, Emile Pierre, and Jacques Faubée, provide a valuable insight into the history of the Great Island. The exhibition will remain accessible until March 2, 2025, thanks to the collaboration of the Overseas National Archives and the Museum of Ethnography in Geneva, as stated.
14:00
PMI TRAINING
The first training session dedicated to Small and Medium Industries (PMI) is taking place from December 18th to 20th, 2024, at the headquarters of the Syndicat des Industries de Madagascar (SIM) in Analakely, as part of a partnership with the Fihariana program. This initiative aims to strengthen the skills of PMI, members of the Centre de Gestion Agréé (CGA-SIM), as well as beneficiaries of the One District One Factory (ODOF) project of the Ministry of Industrialization and Trade, with a focus on promoting a culture of excellence and human capital development, according to SIM. The training addresses various topics, including banking management, entrepreneurship, marketing, financial analysis, business plan creation, and management, it is indicated.
