“This year, I was selected in the first ever list of Top 100 young African conservation. This is an acknowledgement of young Africans who are the leading lights in sustainable development of the continent. I am greatly honored to receive this award as it shows to me that the work I have been conducting in our country is valuable and fruitful. Despite being a young woman, I have led the MIHARI network successfully, collaborating with 25 NGO representatives, government entities and all stakeholders to advocate for the rights of 500 000 small-scale fishers in Madagascar. Having received this award empowers me to advance and improve the work I am currently doing, now that I have joined INDRI, which is a newly created think-tank which aims at mobilizing the collective intelligence of all stakeholders nationally to restore Madagascar’s marine landscapes, re-green the island. Ultimately, my vision for Africa is for small-scale fishers across Africa to have their voice amplified and taken into account in the governance of marine resources, by replicating networks designed for and led by coastal communities across African coastlines.” – Vatosoa