Barefoot College Madagascar
Since its inauguration in 2012, Barefoot College Madagascar has been working actively in +40 villages in 12 regions, with the strong collaboration of five field partners:
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
Madagascar National Parks (MNP)
Department for the Development of the Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar
World Conservation Society (WCS)
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
The country now boasts +150 “women solar engineers” working for the benefit of at least 3,700 households. In November 2025, seventh cohort of women have completed thier training at Barefoot College Madagascar Tsiafajavona.
Once back in their respective villages, the “women solar engineers” or Solar Mamas carry out the technical work.
The solar committee organizes the electrification of the village. The field partner provides support in the installation of the solar house and finances the solar home lighting systems jointly with the Ministry of Energy.
BCI Madagascar facilitates the acquisition of materials from suppliers.
The solar house is a building built with the community and for the community. It includes at least three parts:
a storage room for equipment and spare parts that can be locked,
a well-lit room serving as a workshop for the women solar engineers,
a room that can be used by the community for various activities in agreement with the solar committee.
The solar house is equipped with a 300Wp solar system which allows the Solar Mamas to use electrical tools that require electricity (soldering iron). This also allows the use of various electrical devices in the common room (TV, video projector, etc.)
The solar committee promotes solar products and sales for customers in collaboration with the “women solar engineers (Solar Mamas)”. Together, they decide on orders for materials to be placed with Barefoot College Madagascar. Women Solar Engineers are responsible for the maintenance and assembly of solar systems intended for sale once the materials have been acquired. The solar committee manages sales contracts with customers and manages entrepreneurship as a whole.
The training centre is locally managed and its governance is a significant accomplishment exemplifying the power of transparency and collective strategic input from a range of practitioners.