The first development designed as part of the Antananarivo Urban Fabric Initiative (AUFI), the Kianja Andraisoro is the product of civic participation by inhabitants in the neighbourhood of Andraisoro. Inaugurated on 4 March, this space will host sports activities and cultural events. It was designed as a place of exchange and conviviality for residents in the area, with a particular focus on young people and women.
The Antananarivo Urban Fabric Initiative (AUFI) is an ambitious project aimed at redesigning public spaces in a participatory manner. This initiative encourages collaboration between inhabitants, local associations and municipal authorities to co-design and co-construct spaces that meet the community’s needs.
The project is part of an inclusive urban development approach. It addresses the challenges of rapid urbanisation and the lack of appropriate public spaces in Antananarivo, by favouring active mobility, social cohesion, and the emergence of participatory urban planning practices. “By involving inhabitants from the design phase, we create public spaces that truly meet their needs, while strengthening social links in neighbourhoods.” Explains Rina Andriambololomanana, urban project manager at GRET.
A space designed for and by the community
The Kianja Andraisoro was designed in collaboration with inhabitants in the neighbourhood, the fokontany[1], and several local associations. For Rina Andriambololomanana, “Andraisoro is the soul of Antananarivo, it’s a vibrant, dynamic neighbourhood, where tradition and modernity intermingle.” The site will host sports activities and cultural events, during which residents can share moments of exchange and conviviality, ensuring free and inclusive access to public spaces.
Management of the site was officially delegated to a local association (Andraisoro Tia BasketBall – AT2B) and to the fokontany, which will jointly maintain and animate the site.
A lasting impact for the Andraisoro neighbourhood
This site illustrates a new way of thinking about the city, placing inhabitants at the core of decisions that transform their environment. The Antananarivo Urban Fabric Initiative aims to replicate this approach in other neighbourhoods in the capital, in order to create a network of inclusive, participatory public spaces.
The AUFI is a project funded by Agence française de développement (AFD), led by GRET and its partners, in close collaboration with the Greater Antananarivo Urban Area.
[1] Administrative subdivision in Madagascar
