On February 21, 2026, the DECIM Fund took a huge step toward more equitable access to digital tools.

We officially launched the subsidized sale of Internet-connected smartphones and, at the same time, presented a pilot program to sell laptops to students at the University of Antananarivo and the University of Fianarantsoa.

The ceremony was held under the high patronage of His Excellency the President of the Refoundation of the Republic of Madagascar, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, in the presence of Mr. Mahefa Andriamampiadana, Minister of Digital Development, Posts, and Telecommunications (MNDPT); Professor Ndaohialy Manda-Vy Rarivomanantsoa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESUPRES); and Mr. Atou SECK, Resident Representative of the World Bank Group in Madagascar, the DECIM Project Coordination Unit, official partner distributors, representatives of the targeted universities, and various program stakeholders.

Goal: to bridge the digital divide and enable thousands of Malagasy people, particularly women and students, to access affordable, connected digital devices.

With this in mind, 664,000 subsidized digital devices with Internet access will be made available to the public, 400,000 of which are specifically intended for women and girls, in order to sustainably reduce the gender digital divide.

1,400 laptops will be deployed at a later date as part of the pilot project for students at the Universities of Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa, in preparation for a future nationwide rollout.

Subsidized smartphones are now available from official partner retailers, including: 𝗣𝗮𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘀𝘆, 𝗦𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗖, 𝗜𝗭𝗜𝗟𝗜, 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗶, 𝗝𝗶𝗿𝗼-𝗩𝗲, 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗮𝘁𝘆, 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿, 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗴𝗮𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗿 and 𝗬𝗔𝗦.