Impact Spotlight

Established 5 solar-powered Village Information Centers equipped with computers in remote communities across the Vakinankaratra Region

Provided 3,500+ people with access to digital information, education, and professional skills training through solar-powered community hubs

Supported 200+ women and young people in creating new income-generating activities and livelihood opportunities

About

In Maroviro, a landlocked village in the Amoron’i Mania region, 94% of residents lack access to electricity or reliable digital infrastructure and women and girls face persistent barriers to education, income, and civic participation. With limited public investment and geographic isolation, the government has historically excluded Maroviro from national development efforts.

MAMAFI (Malagasy Mamafy Fahombiazana Iraisana) empowers rural communities in Madagascar through community-led, inclusive development rooted in clean energy access, women’s leadership, and digital literacy. Their work centers on long-term social and economic transformation by connecting underserved communities to education, entrepreneurship, and solar-powered technology.

“Thanks to the Solar Digital Empowerment in Landlocked Areas project, communities are no longer left behind. Women become leaders, learn to manage technology and support their families. We build our future through the sun.”

— Ivolatiana Isaïa, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, MAMAFI

HF Partnership

Through the Solar Digital Empowerment initiative, MAMAFI launched a solar-powered Community Information Center (CIC) in rural Madagascar, providing stable and sustainable electricity using rooftop photovoltaic panels and battery storage. The center houses a self-learning digital platform with four client stations and a local server, offering training in IT, agriculture, and entrepreneurship. The project focuses on empowering local women, who will receive training in both solar system maintenance and digital education delivery.

With renewed multi-year support, MAMAFI will scale this model to five additional Community Information Centers across the Vakinankaratra Region, an area facing significant migration from Madagascar's Central Highlands and major rural development challenges. Each new center will be community-managed, with local committees and strong women's leadership overseeing solar maintenance, digital literacy training, and long-term sustainability.