Doctors for Madagascar was founded in 2011 with the aim of improving access to quality medical care in Madagascar
We focus on filling the gaps in the existing healthcare system through close partnerships with local, national, and international actors. Across our focus areas, we work on capacity building for health workers, reinforcing the infrastructure and equipment of health facilities, and provide direct patient care where needed.
We are a team of over 80 staff members on the ground in Madagascar, all of whom are Malagasy nationals. On the German side, our small team works out of an office in Berlin.
The map below shows our current intervention areas in Madagascar.
Who we are
Doctors for Madagascar exists thanks to a dedicated team of healthcare professionals working together to provide accessible, quality health care for all.
Leadership Team
Mara Anna Franke
Chief Impact and Growth Officer
Mara is a medical doctor with a Master’s Degree in Health Policy, Planning, and Financing and a passionate global health researcher. As Chief Impact and Growth Officer, she is responsible for our grant management, project management, and monitoring & evaluation system.
Norolalao Rakotorimanana
Chief Logistics Officer
Norolalao is a logistics engineer, trained in public procurement with Madagascar’s leading universities and with over a decade of experience with various NGOs in Madagascar. In the position of Chief Logistics Officer, she is responsible for all our logistics management and a member of our leadership.
Antsa Fitiavana Randrianantoania
Chief Financial Officer
Antsa is a finance specialist with a Master’s degree in controlling and financial management. Since becoming DfM’s Chief Financial Officer in 2020, he ensures the internal controlling and all financial aspects of the organisation management and is a key member of DFM’s leadership team.
Dr. Riana Samoelina
Country Director
Riana is a physician with a passion for public health and health system strengthening. She is the Country Director of Doctors for Madagascar based in Antananarivo and actively involved in all aspects of leadership, management, and governance to facilitate the personal and organisational development of DfM.
Project Managers
Dr Rija Cedrick
Project Manager - Financial Inclusion
Rija Cedrick, a doctor with a degree from the University of Mahajanga, is the Project Manager of DFM's financial inclusion project, which is being implemented in the three main regions of southern Madagascar. Passionate about community health and particularly committed to improving the quality of care for the population in this part of the island, he has already worked for several years in this area, enabling him to interact easily with all project stakeholders in order to provide them with financial access to essential healthcare services.
Dr. Maurin
Project Manager
Maurin, a medical doctor specializing in public health, is the project manager of our SOAMEVA project manager. His vision is to design and implement strategies to reach zero-dose and under-vaccinated children in the three southern regions of Madagascar (Atsimo Andrefana, Androy and Anosy) with life-saving childhood vaccinations.
Dr. Fanilo
Project manager “Claims”
Fanilo is a physician with a passion for maternal and child health. She is currently based in Toamasina and is involved in all aspects of claims management using the mTOMADY platform to facilitate the handling of payments for DFM collaborators and partners.
Hery Randriarisoa
Project Manager “Solar Electrification”
Hery is a civil engineering technician, specialised in infrastructure and electrification. Since joining Doctors for Madagascar in 2017, he has focused on water and sanitation interventions, as well as health centre construction and rehabilitation in rural areas. Currently, he holds the position of project manager for construction and solar electrification.
Dr. Gybel Iata Pasteur
Project Manager “Maternal and Child Health Project”
Gybel holds a doctorate in medicine from the University of Antananarivo and has longstanding, demonstrated experience in clinical and community health. He is currently leading Doctors for Madagascar’s Maternal and Child Health Project and is based in Manambaro.
Dr. Hariaka Emannuel Andriamasy
Project Manager “Research”
Mano is a medical doctor with years of experience in supporting and conducting operational research. Currently the Head of Research at Doctors for Madagascar he ensures we use solid methodology, high quality data, robust analysis, and high quality research plans for all of DfM’s research projects.
Dr. Rinja Ranaivoson
Project Manager “Destitute Fund”
Rinja is a medical doctor trained at the university of Santiago de Cuba. As local coordinator of Doctors for Madagascar’s maternal and child health activities in the district of Ampanihy he is responsible for the overall coordination an implementation of activities. He is also responsible for the management of the destitute fund project as project manager.
Fierenantsoa Ranjaharinony
Project Manager “mirayTB”
Fierenantsoa specialises in social development sciences with a particular expertise in socio-environmental studies. With several years of experience in project management and community resilience activities, she is committed to strengthening local capacities to address health challenges. Since 2019, she has been leading the mirayTB project at Doctors for Madagascar, focusing on combating tuberculosis, HIV, and malnutrition.
Board
Mrs. “Birgitta Fink”
Our treasurer
Birgitta, a graduate in business administration, has been with ÄfM since our foundation in 2011. In her role as the treasurer for ÄfM, based in Leipzig, she is in charge of the charity’s financial matters in Germany. In close collaboration with our tax advisor and our payroll accounting office in Leipzig, she is involved in all personnel issues, payments of salaries and invoices from our German accounts, financial reporting, and issuing of donation receipts.
Dr. Julius Emmrich
Board Chair
Julius is a medical doctor, global health researcher and social entrepreneur based in Berlin, Germany. He co-founded Doctors for Madagascar in 2011 and currently chairs its Board. Julius enjoys being involved in building and maintaining partnerships, organisational development, and maximising DfM’s impact.
Hortensia Ramasimanana
Board Chair
Hortensia is an expert in operations management and organisational structuring based in Antananarivo, with 15 years of leadership experience. She holds an MBA and a Master’s in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid. Previously, she served as Country Director for Doctors for Madagascar for four years, and now brings her expertise to our Board.
Dr. Nadine Muller
Board member
Nadine is a medical doctor in infectious diseases, a trained field epidemiologist, and a global health researcher at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. For about 10 years, she has served as a board member of Doctors for Madagascar. Nadine is actively involved in research and project management related to tuberculosis, HIV, and immunisation at DfM.
Core Values
Our core values guide all our actions and decision
Respect
We value and respect the inherent dignity and rights of all individuals.
Integrity
We are committed to acting honestly, ethically and responsibly in all aspects of our work.
Transparency
We promote transparency in our operations, maintaining open and clear communication with our partners, stakeholders, and among ourselves.
Collaboration
We believe in co-conceiving, co-creating and co-evaluating our projects with our local partners, health-facility and community leaders, and public officials.
Inclusivity
We strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment, valuing and celebrating the unique backgrounds and perspectives of all employees.
Equality
We provide support without discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, political opinion, religious belief, sexuality or gender.
Efficiency
We strive to achieve efficiency in all of our operations. We want the maximum amount of money to go exactly where it is needed. We therefore reduce our administrative costs as much as possible and are supported by a team of volunteers.
Transparency
In accordance with the Transparent Civil Society initiative, you can find information about Doctors for Madagascar and its activities here.
Doctors for Madagascar is registered in Germany as Ärzte für Madagaskar e.V. and in Luxembourg as Médecins pour Madagascar a.s.b.l. The contract (Accord de Siège) with the Malagasy government enables Doctors for Madagascar to be active in the country as an international NGO.
As a charity we take transparency seriously, and try to comply with best practice in Germany and Madagascar. Since there is no statutory disclosure requirement or public register for charities in Germany, Transparency Deutschland e.V. has defined ten key areas that charities should voluntarily provide information on. Here, we publish information on these ten topics for Ärzte für Madagaskar e.V. in Germany.
Ärzte für Madagaskar e.V. is a charity founded in Summer 2011 and based in Leipzig.
ADDRESS:
Ärzte für Madagaskar e.V.
Naunhofer Straße 22
04299 Leipzig
ÄfM e.V. is registered in the Vereinsregister AG Leipzig under the number R 5080.
Doctors for Madagascar is according to the finance authority Leipzig II, Tax Number 231 / 140 / 28274, from the 12.01.2022 onwards according to § 5 Section 1 Nr. 9 of the Corporation Taxes Law freed from the Corporations Tax and according to § 3 Nr. 6 of the Trade Tax Act freed from the Trade Tax.
For further information on our team and key decision-makers read here.
Further information about our recent activities can be found here.
Further information about our personnel structure can be found here.
Information on sources of funds can be found here.
Information on use of funds can be found here.
Doctors for Madagascar is a registered charity in Germany. The charity has a Headquarter Agreement (Accord de Siège) with the Malagasy government and possesses an office in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Doctors for Madagascar received subsidies in 2023 from the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung, Vitol Foundation, each of which accounted for more than 10 percent of annual revenue.
Press
Read more about our work here
Ultraschall, Solaranlagen und neuer OP
Leipziger Zeitung, 2019
E-Health in Madagaskar
Deutsche Welle, 2019
„Compact with Africa“ – Von der Charité nach Madagaskar
Tagespiegel, 2019
Financial
Supporters
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our donors. Your contributions make our projects possible. Together, we are creating positive change in Madagascar and beyond.
Misaotra betsaka tompoko – many thanks from the bottom of our hearts!
