Structural inequalities in Madagascar sometimes restrict women, youth and minorities from safely participating in civic life, creating barriers to free expression both online and offline.
Tensions spiral through rumors and group chats, with no safe space for dialogue or resolving tensions before they escalate.
Cultural repression, political exclusion, inequality and censorship eventually climaxed in late 2025, when Madagascar's Gen Z took to the streets to protest power cuts and restricted freedoms, sparking a political transition.
During this period, a UN Peacebuilding Fund-supported initiative, Rary Aro Madaa¡ªmeaning ¡°thread by thread¡±¡ªhelped young people across the country learn how to safely take part in civic life, spot and challenge misinformation, and connect with others in their communities.
Unlocking the power to act
As part of the peacebuilding initiative, a bootcamp conflict simulation exercise helped Ramamonjisoa Finiavana Romance, 26, realize that conflict isn¡¯t something to avoid, but something to manage early before it escalated.
Randriamanantsoa Tiana Finoana Koloina, Peace CommitteeSince Finiavana got involved, young people have been coming to talk things out before tensions escalate into arguments. She has changed the way we respond.¡±
Focusing on youth leadership
At workshops and bootcamps, young people learned mediation, dialogue and critical thinking skills. Many participants joined peace committees and human rights observatories.
In moments of crisis¡ªsuch as the 2025 youth-led demonstrations¡ªthese young leaders played a key role in calming tensions, verifying information, and preventing escalation.
In Finiavana¡¯s district, an online rumor fueled tensions between two youth groups and threatened to spark violence. She met with each group to calm the situation, and then facilitated dialogue and fact-checking, helping separate truth from distortion and de-escalate the conflict.
Photo above: Finiavana training young people on media and information literacy. Credit: UNESCORakotoariniaina Saholy, President of a fokontany (a local district)We now see young people not as a source of tension, but as actors for peace.¡±
Supporting LGBTQ+ voices
Ando, a 23-year-old participant, gained a better understanding of rights and laws and learned how to use them to protect and promote human rights.
He explained that local authorities and communities were often repressive toward LGBTQ+ people, forcing many to stay silent to stay safe. Through his role in a human rights observatory, he worked to include LGBTQ+ people in activities and created safe spaces where they could speak about their needs.
Photo below: Peacebuilding workshop at Rary Aro Bootcamp in Analamanga. Credit: AJFACE Antsiranana
Through the peacebuilding initiative, over 5,000 young people across nine regions have been trained in human rights, civic engagement and media literacy. They continue to lead initiatives, train peers and expand networks independently.
At the same time, national institutions, including the judicial and security sectors, are integrating human rights and freedom of expression into their practices and training systems. New policies and legal reforms are being developed to safeguard civic space for future generations.
Across the country, youth now act as early warning actors, mediators and trusted voices, contributing to stronger community resilience and more inclusive governance.
Photo below: About 50 young people take part in the Rary Aro Bootcamp in Analamanga. Credit: UN Madagascar
Our partners in peacebuilding in Madagascar
For 20 years, the UN Secretary-General¡¯s Peacebuilding Fund has empowered people to rebuild their communities and countries in the aftermath of conflict and crisis, working with them to build the resilience needed to prevent the recurrence of violence and secure lasting peace.
The Rary Aro Madaa peacebuilding initiative was implemented by the , , as well as the Malagasy Ministries of Youth and Sports, Justice, Public Security, local universities and partners.
UN Peacebuilding initiatives are made possible by the generous contributions of Member States and the indispensable support of implementing partners.