• Madagascar launched the ASAN’AI program to train 1,300 people for digital customer relations and BPO jobs.
• Authorities aim to train tens of thousands of young people in digital skills by 2028 through multiple national and international initiatives.
• Internet penetration remained low at 20.4% at the end of 2025, raising concerns about access and inclusion.

Africa’s digital transformation is accelerating and reshaping labor markets across the continent. According to the World Bank, about 230 million jobs in sub-Saharan Africa will require digital skills by 2030 to support this shift.

Against this backdrop, the Malagasy government launched the “ASAN’AI” program on Thursday, January 29. The initiative aims to build a pool of qualified human resources capable of meeting the needs of local and international customer relationship companies. By targeting 1,300 people, the program fits into broader efforts to position digital technology as a lever for youth employability.

The “Production Agents” track seeks to train operational profiles for multichannel customer relationship jobs in digital environments that integrate CRM tools and artificial intelligence. These roles include multichannel customer service agents, call center agents, and telemarketers. Another track focuses on middle management profiles such as supervisors, team managers, and operations controllers.

According to authorities, the program addresses a shortage of qualified, job-ready profiles aligned with the requirements of the customer relationship and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market. The sector remains one of the main drivers of the digital economy, as it creates thousands of jobs, attracts international investment, and offers real career prospects for young talent.

“Digital technology is for everyone. It is not limited to computers, the Internet, or applications, but represents a major asset and an open door to employment, skills, and the future for young people. It is time for Malagasy youth to take responsibility and prove that they have the strength, talent, and capacity needed to meet the challenges of the world of work and adapt to changes driven by globalization,” the Ministry of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications said in a statement.

Training Locally to Meet Digital Market Needs

The launch of ASAN’AI comes just days after the start of a new phase of the “D-CLIC” program promoted by the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF). The initiative aims to provide free training to 1,000 young people in digital professions by the end of 2026. It begins with the training of national instructors tasked with building a sustainable support network across the country. Training courses developed by the OIF through an online learning platform focus on in-demand digital skills and digital entrepreneurship.

In October 2025, the government launched the first cohort of the Skills4Job program, which aims to equip young people with key digital skills to better prepare them for the labor market. The program started with 51 participants in the port city of Toamasina and is expected to expand gradually nationwide.

In September 2025, Marie Marcelline Rasoloarisoa, then Minister of Technical Education and Vocational Training, announced a target to train 40,000 people in digital skills by 2028. In April 2024, the government unveiled plans to create a National Digital Institute that will train 3,000 young people per year.

In parallel, the global network of self-taught computer science schools 42 has operated a campus in Antananarivo since April 2024. With support from local authorities, the school offers a three-year curriculum in key digital and programming fields. In February 2024, Madagascar also signed a partnership agreement with the United Arab Emirates to train one million young people in new technologies.

Digital Jobs Face Structural Constraints

This focus on digital skills comes as more than four in ten Malagasy aged 18 to 35 reported being unemployed and actively seeking work in 2024, according to Afrobarometer. The same source cited lack of training or adequate preparation at 30%, lack of experience at 27%, and a mismatch between academic qualifications and market needs at 16% as the main barriers to employment.

While digital technology offers job potential, questions remain about training quality, alignment with labor market needs, and equal access to opportunities for young people, especially in rural areas. Remote and freelance work also requires digital equipment such as computers, tablets, or smartphones, as well as access to electricity and the Internet. On this front, DataReportal estimated internet penetration in Madagascar at 20.4% at the end of 2025.

Isaac K. Kassouwi