About
MADLab is a think-do tank based in southern Madagascar enabling and empowering local communities to be the change they want to see for their families.
The SYMPOSIUM will bring together community members, experts, practitioners and policy makers from across Madagascar and abroad to break the status-quo in development decision making – putting communities at the centre of the conversation.
During the symposium, three student groups from across the south of Madagascar will present the issues in their communities as they see and live them. We will hear from experts and practitioners from a diverse range of disciplines from Madagascar and around the world. Seed funding will allow new collaborations to grow and begin to tackle the issues discussed during the three days.
Student projects

Marobe Marofoty
Fidson, Stefan & Stony, one of the high school finalist groups involved in MADLab 2021, are from the small village Marobe Marofoty in southern Madagascar. In this video they explain the knock-on effects of not having access to electricity, and what they would do to solve the problem!
Programme
All times are given in EAT (East Africa Time).
If you are joining us on Zoom, please note the meeting room link will be different for each session. You will receive all the Zoom information to your sign-up email address.
Wednesday 28th July | 17:30 | Registration | La Kabane |
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18:00 | Welcome from the MADLab Committee | La Kabane | |
18:15 | Networking dinner | La Kabane | |
Thursday 29th July | 07:30 | Coffee/light breakfast | Mahavoky Annexe |
08:30 | Opening of the Symposium Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
09:30 | Keynote speech from Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
10:15 | Coffee/tea break | Mahavoky Annexe | |
10:30 | Participant countdown | Mahavoky Annexe | |
11:30 | Presentation from student group 1: Water issues in Erada, Anjeky Beagnatara Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
12:15 | Presentations from academics and practitioners, including discussion, Q & A Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
13:00 | Lunch | Chez Bernard | |
15:00 | Presentation from student group 2: Electricity access in Marobe Marofoty, Ambovombe Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
15:45 | Presentations from academics and practitioners, including discussion, Q & A Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
16:30 | Group photo | Mahavoky Annexe | |
18:00 | Bus transport to dinner venue | Kaleta Hotel | |
18:30 | Networking dinner | Rex's Pizza Restaurant | |
Friday 30th July | 07:30 | Coffee/light breakfast | Mahavoky Annexe |
08:30 | Presentation from student group 3: Water issues in Nosibe, Manambaro Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
09:30 | Presentations from academics and practitioners, including discussion, Q & A Zoom | Mahavoky Annexe | |
10:15 | Travel to Nosibe | - | |
10:45 | Nosibe site visit | Nosibe | |
12:00 | Depart Nosibe | - | |
12:30 | Lunch | Domaine de les Cascades | |
14:30 | Project collaboration and formation with students | Domaine de les Cascades | |
15:30 | Short presentation of projects formed | Domaine de les Cascades | |
16:00 | Concluding remarks from the MADLab Committee | Domaine de les Cascades | |
16:15 | Depart from Cascades to Taolagnaro | - | |
17:00 | Networking dinner | La Grill du Lac |
Contact MADLab
Interested in collaborating or finding out more? Contact the MADLab Committee at salama@madlab.mg.
The MADLab Committee
- Volatiana Tombotsiory
- Joe Rakotonirina
- Miandra Rabesalama
- Harry Chaplin
- Daniel Wood