04:00
PARC 2024
Madagascar will be well represented in the final phase of the Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC) 2024, which will be held in Dakar, Senegal, from July 22 to 27. In the initial phase of the competition, the Malagasy team ranked 9th out of 64 teams from 23 countries. This year, the participants are required to develop an agricultural robot (AgRobot) capable of autonomous navigation and estimating crops using computer vision. As a form of support, the Ministry of Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications has provided air tickets for the Robotiako Team to ensure the travel of the 4 young Malagasy competitors and their coach to Senegal. This ministry support is in response to a plea for help made a few days ago by the STEM for Good association. The Malagasy team is composed of Faly Christian Andrianarison, a 3rd-year student in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Antananarivo, Maminiaina Herizo Manampisoa, a 2nd-year student in Telecommunication at the Polytechnic Higher School of Antananarivo Vontovorona, Avotriniaina Mecenni, a 2nd-year student in Electronics at the Polytechnic Higher School of Antananarivo Vontovorona, and Tahiry Manantsiory Randrianjatovo, a 1st-year student in Design at the IT University of Andoharanofotsy. They are coached by Anthony Law, an engineer in automation and computer science.
05:00
COMMEMORATION-AMPITIFIRANA
A ceremony in memory of Lt Albert Randriamaromanana, industrialists Samuel Rakotondrabe and Samuel Ratsizafy, as well as Bekamisy and Lezoma, fighters native to Vatomandry, will take place today in Ampitifirana within the premises of the University of Antananarivo, where these figures of the events of 1947 in the struggle for independence of Madagascar were executed on July 19, 1948.
06:00
TOAMASINA
Electric power has been restored in some neighborhoods of downtown Toamasina following the intervention of Jirama technicians. An incident had damaged underground cables, causing a power outage. Since 10:40 PM yesterday, a portion of the city of Toamasina has once again access to electricity, according to Jirama. The affected neighborhoods are Farafaty, Bazar Kely, Ampasimazava, Cite Nouvelle Ville, Salazamay, Tanamakoa 12/14, Analakininina Hospital Be 12/21-22 Bd Ratsimilaho, Bd Joffre, Depôt Analakininina 23/44, Cite Vohitsara, Betainomby, Anjoma, Maison Centrale, Androranga, Bazar Depôt, Port Fluvial, Cite Canada, Depôt Analakininina, Bazar Be, Gare Manguier, Tanambao II, Hospital Kely, Crjs, Tanamborozano, Ambolomadinika, Tanambao I, II, III, Beryl Rose, Score Bazar Kely, Morarano, Ambalakisoa, and Tanambao V Sud. Jirama technicians continue to work to restore power throughout the region.
07:00
AOSIS
The integration of Madagascar into AOSIS was the highlight of a meeting between the Malagasy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rafaravavitafika Rasata, and the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Max Fontaine, with Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr. Pa’olelei Luteru, president of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and representative of Samoa to the United Nations. Madagascar, as the third most vulnerable country to climate change, sees its fishing activities and coastal ecosystems threatened by sea level rise and extreme weather events. By joining AOSIS, Madagascar wishes to establish new partnerships to promote the blue economy and encourage the implementation of programs and actions for sustainable development, combining the exploitation of marine resources and the preservation of biodiversity. Despite its large size, Madagascar is a developing island state that shares the same vulnerabilities as other members of AOSIS. This awareness strengthens solidarity and collaboration among nations for a more secure and sustainable future.
08:00
WASTE TREATMENT
Through a partnership between the Urban Municipality of Antananarivo (CUA), the Municipality Sanitation Company (SMA), and Apis Solutions (APIS), the project related to waste treatment in the capital city involves the valorization of fermentable waste through methanization and compost production, as well as the establishment of recycling channels for non-fermentable waste. APIS will invest in this industrial project, supported by local and international financial partners. The project will focus on the social inclusion of women and young people, involving waste pickers’ associations and small businesses in the sector. The project will be implemented gradually. The first 20t/day unit at the Andralanitra landfill has been operational since yesterday, while three other methanization centers, each capable of treating 200 tons of fermentable waste per day, will be established in the next four years to handle the total amount of municipal waste. The ultimate waste will be landfill in Technical Landfill Centers (CET). The produced biomethane will be used by industries as a replacement for heavy fuel oil and firewood, while the compost will be used for organic agriculture. This project will solve the issue of the saturated Andralanitra landfill, which will be gradually rehabilitated and restored. Waste treatment will make Antananarivo cleaner, healthier, and more ecological, addressing the challenges of combating climate change and sustainable development through a circular economy, it is noted.
09:00
RESTORATION OF MANGROVES
Since 2019, “Soatiry,” a community organization in the Melaky region, has restored approximately 262 hectares of mangroves out of the 3940 hectares present around the villages of Ankelilaly, Belambosy, and Nosimboro. Alex Philibert, the president of the grassroots community (COBA), expressed their motivation to restore all degraded mangroves this year. In 2016, the residents of these three villages, located in the Manambolo Delta, joined forces to create the community organization “Soatiry.” This association is committed to the sustainable management of fishing, mangroves, and tropical forests. Since December 2020, they have fully managed the natural resources around their villages through a transfer of management from the Malagasy government. In their mission, the communities benefit from technical support from WWF and financial support from the French Development Agency, particularly for awareness sessions on mangrove restoration and sustainable management. Currently, the COBA “Soatiry” has 210 members, more than half of whom are young people and women.
11:00
SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT
Madagascar is taking on the challenge of sustainable waste management to promote a circular economy, focusing on recycling, waste reduction, and creating sustainable jobs. This rapidly growing sector offers significant economic opportunities, with a potential of $4.5 trillion by 2030. The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Madagascar (MEDD), Max Andonirina Fontaine, organized a side event with the United Nations Office for Sustainable Development (UNOSD) during the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York to address this issue. Madagascar’s waste management efforts have been recognized. Furthermore, it has been indicated that UNOSD will support the country in establishing an effective framework for sustainable waste management. This action plan, aiming to improve regulatory framework, expand infrastructure, and support the private sector, will be implemented by 2025.
12:00
FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING
The General Director of Customs, Lainkana Zafivanona Ernest, today welcomed a delegation from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accompanied by representatives from the US Department of Defense and the Security of the US Embassy in Madagascar. The strategies implemented by Malagasy Customs and future projects to combat drug trafficking and distribution were discussed during this meeting. The General Director of Customs emphasized the importance of cooperation and technical and financial support from international partners. He also highlighted the need to sustain initiatives and train all border actors to facilitate real-time information sharing, thereby improving coordination and effectiveness in the fight against drug trafficking.
13:01
BUDGET CALENDAR
The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), in collaboration with USAID Madagascar and UNDP through the RINDRA program, initiated a comprehensive process to develop a new budget calendar. The objective is to improve efficiency, transparency, and participation in budget preparation. In Madagascar, major challenges related to synchronizing the budget calendar with the parliamentary cycle hinder the efficiency of budget management according to UNDP. The main difficulties include budget adoption delays, discrepancies between cycles, and limited inter-ministerial coordination. To address these issues, transparency and stakeholder participation must be reinforced. A series of workshops were organized to diagnose, train, and validate the necessary improvements. In May 2024, a meeting was held to discuss the programming of public investments by sector ministries. During this month of July, a workshop focused on training and exchanges among sector actors, with group work to review the steps of the budget calendar. The ultimate goal is to obtain regulatory adoption to ensure enforceability and advance key dates before sending to Parliament for revision.
14:00
DEVELOPMENT OF THE PALOSS
A seminar on best practices for the creation of the Simplified and Secure Local Development Plan (PALOSS) took place this week in Anosy. This event brought together various professionals and experts in spatial planning to share their experiences, identify challenges, and suggest innovative solutions. Topics discussed included the context and objectives of the tool, stakeholder participation, the use of technology, and budget management. This seminar also served to improve the participants’ skills and lay the foundation for local development plans.
15:00
RAPE CASES
The Ministry of Justice reports a decrease in the number of rape cases in Madagascar. 54 rape cases were handled by the courts in June, compared to 116 in January 2024. According to Minister Landy Mbolatiana Randriamanantenasoa, the adoption of the reform of the Malagasy penal code, which includes surgical castration as a punishment for rape of minors, has deterred perpetrators of sexual crimes. It is worth noting that the objective of the reform is to establish deterrence by introducing new sanctions and stricter punishments. The law redefines the notion of “rape” and organizes the penalties according to the age of the victims, while seeking to neutralize sexual predators through castration.
16:00
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
The National U17 Girls Championship will start on July 28, 2024. Phase 1 (Inter-league) will take place from July 28 to August 7, 2024 in the six provincial capitals. Phase 2 (Zonal competitions) will be held from September 1 to 5, 2024, and the final phase is scheduled to take place from November 11 to 20, 2024. The National U17 Girls Championship represents an important milestone in the development of Malagasy women’s football, emphasized the Malagasy Football Federation (FMF). In addition to being a sports competition, this event is an opportunity for education, personal development, and promotion of gender equality. It should be noted that the objective of the National U17 Girls Championship 2024 is to identify and develop promising talents to prepare for the future of Malagasy women’s football. It encourages girls’ participation and promotes gender equality in sports. By providing a platform for players, coaches, and young referees, it also contributes to the improvement of technical skills. Moreover, the championship uses sport as a means of social inclusion, bringing together young people from various regions to create a more united and dynamic society, according to the FMF.
17:00
PRESCHOOL EDUCATION
According to studies, children who have been enrolled in preschool will achieve much better results in school later on. This will prevent these students from repeating grades during their educational journey, which is costly for the State. In Madagascar, only 11% of children in rural areas attend a preschool program, compared to 30% in urban areas. The new law on the general orientation of the education system in Madagascar, enacted in January 2023, advocates for preschool to be an integral part of formal education with a mandatory preschool year. According to UNICEF Madagascar, this is an important measure to reduce the inequality of access to education, which is a challenge that the country must overcome.
