MIT Solve

Solution overview

Our Solution

Halt Poverty

Tagline

using tourism-based solutions to tackle poverty

Pitch us on your solution

The problem that we are committed to solving address staff shortage serving Madagascar tourism industry. The solution we are proposing include access to market using digital solutions, trainings, and career opportunities. Anay training center will be the centerpiece for our solutions. This on-going project converts a traditional home to host a job-training program for tourism workforce. Serving our members: chronically unemployed, lost parents, LGBT community, recovering addicts, people living surrounding protected areas, Anay training center will feature space for a community meeting, computer literacy, environmental outreach, etc. Hospitality and tourism could become the sector for people seeking a way out of poverty. Our solution could positively change the lives of millions if scaled globally by providing alternative solutions towards deforestation and unemployment. Our digital solution will connect tourism-based organizations with more tourists through a destination management system

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What is the problem you are solving?

The specific problem within the challenge that we are working to solve is the lack the opportunity for disadvantaged Malagasy people who represent a large portion of the community we are serving. The poverty rate was exceptionally high in Fianarantsoa at 84.7 percent in 2012. Poverty affects a significant proportion of the population and is especially prevalent in rural areas where the great majority of the working age live. The total population of Madagascar (2012) was 21 263 403 according to INSTAT (2012).

The total population in our sites in 2012: 3,546,446

Amoron’i Mania region: 696,080
Matsiatra Ambony region: 1,167,408
Ihorombe region: 304,032
Vatovavy Fitovinany region: 1,378,926

The total number of affected people of poverty in our sites is 2,818,923

Amoron’i Mania: 85.5%: 595,148
Matsiatra Ambony: 76.1%: 888,397
Ihorombe: 78.2%: 237,753
Vatovavy Fitovinany: 79.6%: 1,097,625

As a result, marginalized people often participate informally and at the margins, as porters, and so on. They need extra support to become active citizens and contribute to boost our economy. Our focused areas include workforce development, economic empowerment and social development. Most tourism ventures hardly find enough labor supply in digital and sustainable tourism

Who are you serving?

The total targeted population whose lives we are working to directly and meaningfully improve: 2,818,923. Chronically unemployed, lost parents, LGBT, recovering addicts, to address staff shortage serving Malagasy tourism industry. Priorities are given to those living surrounding protected areas:

Amoron’i Mania: 595,148
Matsiatra Ambony: 888,397
Ihorombe: 237,753
Vatovavy Fitovinany: 1,097,625

A prevalent aspect of poverty in Madagascar is the absence of running
water and cooking gas. A vicious circle linking poverty, and rapid
environmental degradation can ensue households turn increasingly to coal
and fuel wood for their daily cooking. Furthermore, access to
electricity is limited, particularly in rural area. At the national
level, the rate of access to water and sanitation in Madagascar 41
percent is below international trends 51 percent.

Anay training center will be made available for our members to host
meetings. We are working with them to understand their needs and
participate in the solution with the conviction in the capability of
each poor family to come out of poverty. Our core belief: scale should
be for the people,of the people and by the people. This solution will
address their needs through people to people learning, "TONGASOA" "LOVASOA" "MAHASOA" best approaches

What is your solution?

Human development is about expanding opportunities. North to South, South to South exchange programs: Connect. Engage. Research

1. TONGASOA. Travel and Connect. Tongasoa means welcome. This approach gives our guests the opportunity to explore Madagascar as a tourist. Processes and technology, to be used: Destination Management System

2. LOVASOA. Travel and Research. Lovasoa means precious heritage. This approach gives our guests the opportunity to take part in our research projects

3. MAHASOA. Travel and Engage. Mahasoa means beneficial.This approach gives our guests the opportunity to make a difference as a volunteer. Services we are providing to the population we are serving. Capacity building. Natural Conservation. Cultural preservation. Office work. Wash & MHM

Inputs: Supporting Decent Jobs and Fostering Economic Development

Select only the most relevant.

Support communities in designing and determining solutions around critical services
Create or advance equitable and inclusive economic growth

Where is your solution team headquartered?

Antananarivo, Madagascar

Our solution's stage of development:

Growth

More about your solution

Select one of the below:

New business model or process

Describe what makes your solution innovative.

What makes our solution innovative compared to what already exists include a brand-new approach, using technology, updated business model to serve our target population. With our partners we support local people with sustainable tourism initiatives. Local tourism-based ventures will be able to list their ventures on our digital platform using our Destination Management System. By fostering economic development and putting local people at the heart of our actions. Human development is about expanding opportunities. North to South, South to South exchange programs: Connect. Engage. Research

1. TONGASOA. Travel and Connect. Tongasoa means welcome. This approach gives our guests the opportunity to explore Madagascar as a tourist. Processes and technology, to be used: Destination Management System. Our digital platform will increase the visibility of local ventures (inbound operators) to international markets

2. LOVASOA. Travel and Research. Lovasoa means precious heritage. This approach gives our guests the opportunity to take part in our research projects. Data (feedback, per click bookings, etc.) will be collected and assessed

3. MAHASOA. Travel and Engage. Mahasoa means beneficial.This approach gives our guests the opportunity to make a difference as a volunteer. Services we are providing to the population we are serving. Capacity building. Natural Conservation. Cultural preservation. Office work. Wash & MHM

Inputs: Supporting Decent Jobs and Fostering Economic Development

Describe the core technology that your solution utilizes.

Our solution relies on technology as a key component. Digital, manufactured: "Destination Management System" to connect local tourism-based organizations with potential visitors

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

Internet of Things
Social Networks

Why do you expect your solution to address the problem?

Description of a theory of change that links our activities to direct outputs and outcomes for the population we are serving. Evidence to support the existence and strength of those links. Over 80 percent of the beneficiaries to our capacity building program had no legal status as a tour guides. In other words, they were informal tour guides. With the partnership of the ministry of tourism, many are registered as an official tour guides segmented as local, regional, national tour guides. One of our dearest feedback from our local champions is that one of them was once a zebu keeper but has evolved as an outstanding national tour guides. Additional key indicators will include:

Client satisfaction
Organizational policies

Select the key characteristics of the population your solution serves.

Women & Girls
LGBTQ+
Rural Residents
Urban Residents
Very Poor/Poor
Low-Income
Middle-Income
Minorities/Previously Excluded Populations
Persons with Disabilities

In which countries do you currently operate?

Madagascar

In which countries will you be operating within the next year?

Madagascar

How many people are you currently serving with your solution? How many will you be serving in one year? How about in five years?

The number we will be serving in one year

2000 members of our small groups
At least 10 responsible travelers participate in Tongasoa and Lovasoa projects
At least 10 volunteers to apply in community development through Mahasoa Project
Two family living out of poverty

The number we will be serving in five year

1,077,004 members of our small groups
At least 50 responsible travelers participate in Tongasoa and Lovasoa projects
At least 50 volunteers to apply in community development through Mahasoa Project
Ten family living out of poverty

What are your goals within the next year and within the next five years?

Expected outcomes

Increased business revenue for existing ventures
Improved quality of service delivered
Improved visibility of local business
Improved business management skills
Increased income from business
Increase in job supported
Increased formalization

What are the barriers that currently exist for you to accomplish your goals for the next year and for the next five years?

The barriers that currently exist for us to accomplish our goals for the next year and the next five years include:

External Risk: Lack of strong social and regulatory frameworks—as well as complicated tax codes and high tax rates—can hinder MSME start-up, expansion, and formalization, even with access to financing.

Even within conservation areas, the drivers of deforestation can
continue. Forests must be carefully monitored for illicit activity, such
as illegal timber harvesting or wildlife poaching. Natural drivers of
deforestation, such as extreme weather and natural disasters, can also
affect the stability and resilience of conserved areas.

Execution Risk: MSMEs may lack of strong social and environmental practices to protect their employees from the risk of dangerous exposures to chemicals, inappropriate disposal of byproducts, or abusive labor practices (including child labor), among other harmful practices that can create impact risk. Unsophisticated business practices and skills can also hinder the financial performance of SMEs

Contribution Risk: Market oversaturation could lead to client overindebtedness. Additionally, while MSMEs can provide new incomes and livelihoods, especially in communities lacking sufficient wage employment, new MSMEs may create jobs that are neither productive nor decent. For example, financing SMEs that engage in harmful practices, maintain dangerous work environments, or unfairly treat employees could lead to significant negative effects

How are you planning to overcome these barriers?

We are planning to overcome these barriers using a two-stage, iterative process that builds on the risk assessment.

The first step. It will require enterprises and investors to fill in the data gaps identified in the risk assessment. As several impact risks can be mitigated with additional data, conducting further analysis is a useful starting point

The second step. It will use the new insights to adjust the business model — whether that is tweaking prices, hiring staff, including insurance in costs, extending an initiative, or strengthening health and safety safeguards

If your solution has a website, provide a link here:

https://www.mg-haltpoverty.org

If your solution proposes an app that is available, provide a link to your app online or in an app store here:

https://www.mg-haltpoverty.org

If you have additional video, provide a YouTube or Vimeo link to your video here:

About your team

Your business model & funding

Partnership potential