On January 29, 2026, CA-MDG, through its PCE program, participated in EVA’s program broadcast on Radio Don Bosco around the theme “The space for dialogue for young people”, ( Ny sehatra fanehoan-kevitra ho an’ny tanora ).

In a context where young Malagasy people have recently demonstrated their dynamism and desire for change through various forms of civic engagement and peaceful mobilization, the program aimed to create a space for information, awareness-raising, and debate around existing mechanisms for participation. Its objective was to highlight the importance of structured dialogue spaces, particularly Youth Councils, as levers for inclusive governance and citizen participation at all levels.

The program was hosted by Randriamananjara François de Paul of CA-MDG, with the participation of Ratrimojaha Zoharinaivo Derantsoa, ​​Permanent Secretary of the Coordination Unit of the Youth Association Movement and representative of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, as well as Razafiarisoa Paquerette Eriqua, Project Manager for Citizen Participation and Economic Efficiency at CA-MDG. The discussions highlighted the strategic role of young people, who represent nearly seventy percent of the Malagasy population, while also underscoring the limitations of their effective participation in decision-making processes, linked in particular to the weak operationalization of existing institutional frameworks.

The representative from the Ministry of Youth and Sports presented the government’s efforts to revitalize Youth Councils at the municipal, regional, and national levels. He explained the necessary steps to join a Municipal Youth Council, emphasizing the importance for young people to legally organize themselves into associations and to contact the Ministry’s decentralized services to benefit from institutional support. For its part, Eriqua reiterated the PCE program’s commitment to promoting democratic culture, strengthening youth civic participation, and valuing spaces for dialogue as essential tools to foster their active involvement in local development.

The interaction with listeners was a highlight of the program, with sixty-one messages received. The feedback focused primarily on the need to strengthen the structure of youth associations and create inclusive spaces for dialogue between young people, parents, associations, and local authorities. Many listeners emphasized the importance of giving young people a more central role, particularly in rural areas, through technical support, organizational strengthening of associations, and the establishment of robust structures in each fokontany (village ). Some also suggested creating political training schools for young people to develop their civic skills and their ability to influence public decisions.

Across the board, the discussions also highlighted unemployment as one of the major challenges facing young people, directly impacting their level of civic engagement. Overall, the program demonstrated that creating and strengthening spaces for dialogue among young people is essential to enabling them to become genuine agents of national development. These platforms not only foster expression and participation but also provide frameworks for learning key skills such as public speaking, negotiation, and critical thinking.

By investing in these spaces, in accordance with the guidelines of the National Youth Policy, Madagascar is giving itself the means to promote inclusion, empowerment and the emergence of a generation capable of carrying out sustainable initiatives and actively contributing to building a more equitable and prosperous future for the country.

By, Communications Team,

Centre Arrupe-Madagasar.