Building blocks to breakthroughs: Dr Félixie’s vision of a digital public sector in Madagascar

Dr Hantanirina Félixie Rafalimanan, a digital governance expert working in Madagascar’s Digital Governance Unit, knows the challenges people face when accessing public services from the inside: long queues, unclear procedures, and limited access to services, particularly in rural areas. Nearly one in four citizens has no official ID, cutting them off from education, healthcare, and voting. With a PhD in Computer Science and expertise in distributed artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), Dr Félixie has always been driven by the belief that technology can simplify administration and improve the lives of citizens.

To share her knowledge and connect with a global network of women leaders, Dr Félixie joined the BMZ of the GovStack Women in GovTech Challenge as a mentor. This programme is designed to strengthen both technical expertise and female leadership in digital governance. The defining moment came when she explored GovStack’s approach of interoperable building blocks for public services. Many mirrored developments are underway in her country, giving her confidence that Madagascar’s digital transformation could accelerate in a sustainable and citizen-centred way.

I realised that the concept of reusable, interoperable building blocks perfectly fits Madagascar’s need for efficient and scalable digital public services.

Inspired, she began applying these principles to one of her key projects: modernising the grievance management system for the Gendarmerie, the national police of Madagascar. The solution, still in development, combines biometric identity verification with digital workflows—making it more transparent, faster, and responsive to citizens’ needs. Exposure to international frameworks validated the direction she was already taking and gave her additional tools to further reinforce it.

Beyond the technical benefits, the GovStack-challenge also gave space to reflect on the broader role of leadership. What began as an opportunity to exchange knowledge became a turning point in her work and leadership. Today, Dr Félixie’s work has a dual mission: improving systems and empowering others, especially women, to lead in digital transformation.