Keeping up the momentum in Madagascar: Bridging Gaps concludes second entrepreneurship workshop in Andapa

According to the world bank, 80 percent of Madagascar's population lives in poverty (2024), earning less than $2.15 per day (in 2017 purchasing power parity). This situation is worsening due to limited access to financial services. In Madagascar, where economic inequality is rife, microfinance serves not only as a financial instrument but also as a lifeline. It removes obstacles and opens doors to communities that have long been excluded from mainstream financial systems.

This was the motivation behind the recent Bridging Gaps entrepreneurial workshops led by our local partner LENS. After a powerful start in February, LENS kept the momentum going with a second workshop in April, which took place at the town hall of Andapa, north east Madagascar. The workshop brought together 20+ entrepreneurs to address local economic obstacles, sparked discussion around microfinance’s core values, and enabled the entrepreneurs to explore the next steps in the microloan application process.

What’s worth noting is that our local ambassadors led the efforts to make the entrepreneurship and microfinance manual more accessible by translating it into Malagasy. This simple but effective step bridged the language gap, allowing participants to engage fully with the material, understand the microloan application procedure, and begin to develop their business plans.

The results of the workshops are as follows:

• 150 microloan applications received from entrepreneurs (60% women)           

• Community loan groups of 5 to 10 people were set up.

• Businesses were launched as cooperatives, with projects in sectors such as sustainable agriculture (food crops like rice) and grocery stores

This second workshop marked another important step forward. With continued training and support, young entrepreneurs in the regions are on their way to building sustainable businesses and creating lasting impact in their communities. Stay tuned for more stories from our entrepreneurs in Madagascar!

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In the picture, you can see two Bridging Gaps ambassadors, Lundi and Harimanana, standing on stage at the town hall in Andapa, where they guided participants through the basics of social entrepreneurship, financial planning, and cooperative business structures. We are grateful to our local ambassadors, who help spread our message and support our mission, even in the absence of NGOs in isolated regions.

If you are interested in joining us to empower grassroots communities, please read more here.