Madagascar’s economic situation remains one of the most challenging in the world. Despite being rich in natural resources and unique wildlife, political instability, poor infrastructure, and widespread poverty have stifled the country’s development. In an overview of Madagascar, the World Bank states, “About 24.8 million people are projected to remain poor in Madagascar, a number larger than the total population of Burundi and South Sudan, where the poverty rates also are very high.” More so, the lack of opportunities in education and employment is tough on young people, as in many rural areas, schools are either poorly funded or challenging to reach. To worsen the issue, access to reliable technology and the internet is another luxury many cannot afford, isolating them from the hope of a better life. This makes the chances of the Malagasy participating in the new economy slimmer. But in this environment, Matina Razafimahefa saw an opportunity for change.
Born and raised in Madagascar, Matina understood the hardships faced by her community. She saw the untapped potential of the youths around her and decided to use technology to bridge the gap between poverty and prosperity. With this in mind, she sought to empower her fellow Malagasy by equipping them with digital IT skills.
Matina Razafimahefa’s Vision
Growing up in Madagascar, Matina Razafimahefa witnessed firsthand how poverty and unemployment affected countless lives, particularly among young people and women. As technology began reshaping economies worldwide, she recognised its potential as a transformative force for Madagascar. However, unlike other countries swiftly embracing technological advancements, Madagascar lagged, remaining primarily disconnected from these global changes.
At 15, Matina enrolled in a French public high school, where she was struck by the stark contrast in the level of education compared to what she had experienced in Madagascar. This exposure ignited a desire to bridge the gap and bring similar opportunities to her homeland. A pivotal moment came when she attended an entrepreneurship conference in London, where she was inspired to drive change in Madagascar.
Motivated by this vision, Matina, at just 19 years old and while still studying political science at the Sorbonne in Paris, co-founded Sayna with her mother, Nirina Rahoeliarivahy. Together, they set out to revolutionize education and technology access in Madagascar, laying the foundation for a new generation of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs.
Milestones: Empowering youths through digital skills
Sayna is the Malagasy word for ‘intelligence’. It is a groundbreaking IT initiative established in 2017 to empower marginalised communities in Madagascar through digital skills. It is the first Franco-African Edtech and crowdsourcing platform. The aim of this platform is to connect organised IT projects and divide them into micro-tasks with a group of trained developers.
The platform targets youths without traditional education or job opportunities and provides affordable coding, programming, and digital literacy training. It focuses on creating economic opportunities by educating and connecting trainees with real-world job placements in the tech sector. This way, they can earn a living while developing their skills.
Through Sayna, Matina Razafimahefa provides technical education and builds a community of digital entrepreneurs who can escape poverty. Since its inception, she has trained over 5,000 people and paid for 25,000 IT tasks. Her vision is to create a generation of tech-savvy Malagasy who can compete globally. She wants to demonstrate that even the most marginalised community can thrive with the right tools and opportunities.
Over time, Matina and her mother, Nirina Rahoeliaribah, have raised €600,000 from Launch Africa Venture, Orange Ventures and the Malagasy Investors Club (MAI). As more young people acquire digital skills through Sayna, they enter the IT workforce and bring brilliant innovations. Local businesses are now benefiting from this technology. All this is helping to diversify Madagascar’s economy, which was previously heavily dependent on agriculture and natural resources.
Matina on the list of Top 20 Africa Business Heroes 2024
Matina Razafimahefa was recently named a Top 20 Semi-Finalist in the 2024 Africa Business Heroes (ABH) competition, the philanthropic initiative of Jack Ma’s Alibaba Group. This annual competition recognizes and supports ten outstanding African entrepreneurs demonstrating talent, impact, and potential. These entrepreneurs compete for a share of $1.5 million in grant funding to further their ventures.
Reaching the semi-finals is a testament to the significant impact and sustainability of Sayna, the startup Matina co-founded in Madagascar. Sayna’s focus on digital skills education has empowered young people by equipping them with valuable IT skills, leading to stable employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. By improving access to education, Sayna is helping Malagasy youth enhance their standard of living, break the cycle of poverty, and contribute to building a more resilient economy.
Matina has become a role model locally and internationally by merging technology with strategic thinking to create a new paradigm in Madagascar. She has transformed the mindset of many in her country, exposing them to new opportunities and a future they once thought impossible, ultimately contributing to the nation’s economic growth.
