A business needs more than a good idea. It needs practical skills, people to learn from and opportunities to reach customers. EFOI brings these concerns into focus for women entrepreneurs in Madagascar and the wider Indian Ocean. Originally published for International Women’s Day, this feature looks at the value of working together and what that means for the businesses travellers may encounter.
What is EFOI?
EFOI stands for Entreprendre au Féminin Océan Indien. It is a regional network of women entrepreneur associations. The network has brought together associations from Madagascar, Comoros, Réunion, Mauritius, Rodrigues and Seychelles, creating connections across islands with different markets and business experiences.
Its purpose includes sharing knowledge and good practice, strengthening business skills and giving women’s entrepreneurship a stronger regional voice.
Practical support for business owners
Training and exchange are central to that work. An entrepreneur may know her product well but still need help understanding finance, finding customers or developing her business.
EFOI’s documented activities have included targeted training and the exchange of practical experience. These are ways to turn individual knowledge into something other business owners can use, rather than leaving each woman to solve every problem alone.
EFOI in Madagascar
EFOI Madagascar connects the regional idea with women’s enterprise within the country. Its work has included building core business skills and links with rural women’s organisations.
That wider reach matters. Business conversations should include women beyond the capital, with room for different experiences and ambitions. The aim is not a single model of success, but support that helps entrepreneurs develop their own activities.
Women leading businesses
Leadership is visible in everyday business decisions: organising work, developing a product, managing resources and sharing experience with others. It does not depend on holding public office.
By bringing entrepreneurs into conversation, a network can give that work greater visibility and create space for women to learn from one another.
From local enterprise to wider markets
Regional exchange offers a chance to look beyond familiar customers. A business owner can compare experiences with someone working on another island, learn about a different market and consider possible collaborations.
Access to markets and finance are important parts of the wider conversation about women’s enterprise. Neither is automatic, but sharing information can help an entrepreneur decide what to explore next.
Women’s businesses and your visit
For travellers, local enterprise makes Madagascar more than a sequence of landscapes. A handmade item or locally produced food can open a conversation about skills, materials and the people behind a business.
Ask who makes a product and where it comes from. Ask permission before taking photographs, and let the owner tell her own story. A purchase is a commercial exchange, not a promise that a visitor has solved a community’s challenges.
Beyond International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is an occasion to recognise women’s work. The practical questions continue throughout the year: access to knowledge, business opportunities and a voice in decisions that affect enterprise.
As a local tour operator in Madagascar, we work with local guides in the places we visit. We want our travellers to notice the people and businesses behind the journey, as well as the scenery.
Questions about EFOI
What does EFOI stand for?
EFOI stands for Entreprendre au Féminin Océan Indien, a regional network connecting women entrepreneur associations in the Indian Ocean.
Does this article promise an EFOI visit on a WAU tour?
No. This is an introduction to the network, not a tour inclusion. Check your chosen itinerary and ask us about your interests before planning a particular visit.
