Supporting women’s entrepreneurship and its ecosystem in Madagascar

In Madagascar, entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic development and the improvement of living conditions. Yet many entrepreneurs, particularly women, face significant obstacles in creating and growing their businesses, including limited access to finance, lack of tailored support, and socio-cultural constraints. In this context, strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem and supporting local initiatives is a crucial challenge for promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.

The MAMOA project seeks to address these challenges by supporting Malagasy micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through the phases of creation, formalisation, and development. Implemented by a consortium bringing together IECD, Initiative International, and the local partner Madagascar Entreprises Développement, the project is part of the ITOVIA programme funded by the French Development Agency. Running from 2024 to 2029, it places particular emphasis on women’s entrepreneurship to promote women’s economic empowerment and reduce gender inequalities.

The project is based hree complementary areas of intervention :

• Supporting the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by assisting Structures for the Promotion of Women’s Entrepreneurship (SPEF) to develop and sustain existing local initiatives while improving their visibility and accessibility for entrepreneurs.
• Promoting socio-economic empowerment by improving women’s living conditions through a transformative effect on their strategic interests and their position in society.
• Facilitating access to dedicated support services through the deployment of financial and non-financial services tailored to entrepreneurs, particularly women.

In the regions of Analamanga, Vakinankaratra, and Haute Matsiatra, various initiatives are implemented to support entrepreneurs:

• The Entrepreneurship Caravan is a mobile initiative operating across the three project regions. It offers workshops introducing entrepreneurship and sessions raising awareness about gender inequalities.
• The TRANSFORM programme/span> serves as a strategic lever for economic development by supporting the promotion of « Made in Madagascar » agro-food products. It guides entrepreneurs through all key stages of their activity, from processing raw materials to marketing, while strengthening their competitiveness and market access.. Il accompagne les entrepreneurs dans toutes les étapes clés de leur activité, de la transformation des matières premières à la commercialisation, en renforçant leur compétitivité
  et leur accès aux marchés.
• The Social Incubator is a multi-service space dedicated to entrepreneurs’ development, particularly women. It provides personalised support through training, thematic workshops, and a dynamic exchange platform via the Entrepreneurs’ Club. In partnership with specialised local organisations, the incubator acts as a referral platform, directing women entrepreneurs to services suited to their needs.
• Managed by local associations active in their communities, the Initiative Honour Loan is a zero-interest personal loan with no collateral required. Coupled with individualised technical support, this financing solution fosters trust among stakeholders, strengthens entrepreneurs’ capacities, and facilitates access to co-financing.

By strengthening entrepreneurs’ skills, supporting local structures, and facilitating access to finance, the MAMOA project contributes to creating a more favourable environment for the development of inclusive and sustainable businesses in Madagascar.