May 19, 2024 @ 8:00 am – May 24, 2024 @ 5:00 pm UTC+0
“I have been on several Global Journeys with [Forward Global] as a member, including Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Colombia, Canada and Brazil. Each one made a significant impact in my learnings and my experiences getting into the field with partners. It was also transformational for me in building close relationships with other TPW members; sharing those kind of experiences builds bonds and trust that underpins this community as a whole. This is the best of what [Forward Global] has to offer.” – Forward Global Member & Global Journey Participant
Who should join a Global Journey?
Join the Global Journey to Madagascar for a deep dive into how funders can support people and planet in a unique and spectacular setting.
This Global Journey is ideal for all members looking to learn from real-life case studies of how funders can empower communities and protect the planet, while getting out to the field and building strategic connections with peers. Given the community and systems focus, the programme is relevant for all members regardless of cause area or geographic focus.
By participating in this programme you will:
Better understand the relationship between people and planet with respect to sustainable development and environmental protection.
Develop communication and due diligence skills in global contexts, including how to build an understanding of organisations’ strategy, approach and impact, and of the context they work within.
Build an understanding of how to work in partnership with local communities.
Better understand how systemic interventions work in practice: including network building, advocacy, storytelling and research.
Understand the role of philanthropy and social investing in supporting systems change in countries like Madagascar with weak government and huge social and economic challenges.
Make strategic connections with peers and practitioners that can take your social investing to the next level.
Leave with practical next steps.
Why Madagascar?
The story of Madagascar’s formation makes it truly unique, having developed for millennia without human influence. 90% of it’s wildlife are endemic – meaning they aren’t found anywhere else on Earth. This makes the country crucial for scientific research on the relationship between people and planet.
Madagascar faces a myriad of challenges common to formerly colonized countries. European influence led to the expansion of the slave trade and warfare, wide deforestation and structuring the economy for export of raw materials. The legacy of this era is still evident today, and Madagascar is often named as the poorest country not in open conflict. Despite these huge challenges, civil society is becoming more organized and an impact investing sector is emerging, which offers some promising solutions if it receives the financial and political backing needed to scale. In that sense, Madagascar offers a wealth of learnings for any globally minded funder, regardless of their specific cause area or geographic focus.
What will I spend my time doing?
We begin in Madagascar’s capital city of Antananarivo, to understand the context, culture and ecosystem of change in the country, including through site visits to local organisations. You will then travel by small plane to one of two locations in rural Madagascar – either the South-West coast, or the central forest region.
The South coast (Andavadoaka) is an area with very limited State presence facing a range of threats including drought, poverty and over-fishing from foreign multinationals. There we will meet coastal communities to understand how they are building power and pursuing sustainable development, with a focus on ocean conservation. In the forest region (Ranomafana), we will meet organizations protecting the forest with community-centred interventions, including by strengthening the front-line health system in partnership with Government, and supporting poverty alleviation. You can see all of these locations on Google Earth here by clicking “view slideshow.” Both locations have strict limits given the number of seats on a plane, and will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. If you have a strong preference, please email jaspar@forward-global.org with your preference at registration.
Returning to Antananarivo, we explore how to intervene systematically to replicate best practices and remove limitations to impact. Throughout, we will focus on the role of philanthropy and social investing, and leave with practical takeaways and actions for our own work.
A summary of the agenda is as follows:
Sunday: arrival to Tana (no later than 3pm), check-in and participant-only opening meal.
Monday: context setting: the history, culture and politics of Madagascar, and site visits to place-based organizations.
Tuesday: morning flight to Andavadoaka or Ranomafana in rural Madagascar and welcome from partner organizations.
Wednesday: site visits in rural Madagascar.
Thursday: return to Tana and focus on advocacy and systems change.
Friday: debrief and flights home after a closing lunch.
Who will be speaking on the program?
Participating speakers and organizations include:
Blue Ventures (host partner in Andavadoaka)
PIVOT (host partner in Ranomafana)
Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, Country Director, WWF
Vatosoa Rakotondrazafy, Founder, Beolobe
And many more. A full agenda will be added soon and sent to registered participants. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions page to assist with additional logistical questions you may have.
When should I register?
The Global Journey will have a strict registration cap of 20 people with places given on a first-come first-served basis, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Registration can be cancelled with a full refund of the program fee up to 90 days before the first day of the programme. For more details, please see the FAQ.
If you have any questions, please contact community@forward-global.org.