by Mahafaly Rambolamanana
From Madagascar to my first summit
Learning, exploring and sharing, these three words sum up everything I carried home from the Africa Evidence Summit this July in Addis Ababa. It was my very first time attending an international conference of this scale, and from the moment I boarded the plane with the rest of the ARISE gang from Mitsilo, I knew that this trip was going to change the way I see my work and myself as a young researcher.
We landed in Addis Ababa at night, tired from the journey but too excited to notice it. The city welcomed us with its lights, its busy streets and a quiet promise of everything we were about to discover. Walking out into that unfamiliar skyline, I remember thinking that, whatever happened over the next few days, I wanted to soak in every single moment of it, because my first conference only happens once
Settling into the hotel in the evenings, we would gather around a small table, laptops open, going over our notes and preparing for the next day. There was something grounding about those quiet moments before the storm of sessions, panels and conversations that awaited us the next morning.
Even the rain could not stop us from wandering the streets of Addis, laughing together and getting a little lost along the way. Those small moments with my ARISE teammates ended up meaning just as much to me as the formal sessions that followed. It reminded me that this journey was not only about research, it was also about the people I got to share it with.
Diving into the world of evidence
Then the summit itself began, and I found myself in a room filled with some of the sharpest minds working on evidence and development across the continent. I immersed myself fully in the research field, session after session, listening to how data and evidence are shaping real policies and real lives across Africa. Being part of that room as a first timer felt humbling and energizing all at once.
Main hall of the Africa Evidence Summit
Meeting and being inspired by someone who has already achieved great in research
Standing with Dr. Edward Miguel in front of the Africa Evidence Summit banner, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and gratitude.
Being part of the ARISE team under Mitsilo at an event of this magnitude was something I had only dreamed about before. It was proof that the work we do, however small it may feel some days, has a place on a much bigger stage.
Putting my research on the wall
One of the most memorable moments for me was presenting my own research to an engaged audience of researchers and practitioners. Sharing my work, answering questions and hearing feedback from people whose research I had long admired pushed me far outside my comfort zone, but it also gave me a new kind of confidence I did not know I had.
My poster looked at Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), the small community savings groups that many rural households in Madagascar rely on to save money and access loans. Using 15 months of data from 134 groups and over 2,575 members, I wanted to understand what makes some of these groups work better than others. The findings were simple but powerful: showing up to meetings mattered more than almost anything else. Members and groups with higher attendance saved more, repaid loans more reliably, and used their money more productively.
I also found that women were less likely to adopt climate-smart farming practices, which suggests there’s real room for programs that give women more targeted support. In short, something as ordinary as attendance can be a strong signal of a group’s financial health, and small design tweaks could help these savings groups work even better for everyone involved.
Connecting, learning and growing
Between sessions, I found myself constantly meeting new people, exchanging contacts, ideas and stories. My network expanded in ways I never expected from a single event.
A few talks in particular stayed with me. One panel on AI in global development reminded me that AI is simply a tool, and the real skill is learning to use it the right way to boost our productivity as researchers, not to replace the thinking itself. A talk on microfinance and psychological wellbeing spoke directly to my own work on VSLAs, it was a good reminder that financial inclusion is never just about the numbers, but about how people feel supported along the way. And a panel on evidence and policy influence left me with something I keep coming back to: publishing a paper is a process, and we should enjoy that process rather than treat it as a race against other researchers.
Every conversation over coffee or in the hallway turned into an opportunity to learn something new about research happening elsewhere on the continent and beyond.
There were also moments of pure joy, the kind that come from being surrounded by people who understand exactly why this work matters. We celebrated small wins together, cheered each other on after presentations, and made sure to capture those bursts of happiness before they passed.
Pictures highlighting the first journey
Tasting the Ethiopian’s staple food
Of course, no trip to Addis Ababa would be complete without sitting down together over a plate of injera, sharing food the way we had spent the week sharing ideas. Those meals became some of my favorite memories, simple moments of connection that reminded me how much culture and community add to the experience of a summit like this.
Trying injera for the first time was an experience in itself with its unique texture, sour taste, and the tradition of eating together made every bite memorable. It was more than just a meal; it was a delicious introduction to Ethiopian culture and a moment I will happily remember.
Beyond research: culture and history
Another thing that makes me love research is that it gives me the opportunity to explore different countries and discover their cultures beyond the academic world.
By the time we found a quiet moment to explore one of the city’s parks « Unity Park », I could already feel how much I had grown in just a few days. I felt lighter, more connected, and deeply thankful for every part of this journey.
Closing the summit by exploring the cultural and historical dimensions of Ethiopia
Looking back now, I am beyond grateful to have been part of the ARISE at Mitsilo. As my first conference, it taught me more than I could have imagined about research, about collaboration, and about myself. I walked in curious and walked out inspired, carrying with me new knowledge, a wider network, and friendships that I know will last well beyond Addis Ababa.
I gratefully acknowledge the generous financial support provided through the ARISE grant awarded to Dr Sarobidy Rakotonarivo and managed by the African Academy of Sciences, which enabled me to participate in the Africa Evidence Summit.