Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

What Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute does

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute (MRCI) is a private, Madagascar-domiciled non-profit founded in 2013 and headquartered at Turtle Cove on Nosy Komba island, with a secondary mainland camp at Ampohana. The organization operates seven volunteer programs spanning Marine Conservation, Sea Turtle Monitoring, Forest Conservation, English Teaching, Community Development, Medical Assistance, and Content Creation, alongside an on-site PADI-certified diving school. Programs run year-round with bimonthly start dates and are sold direct-to-consumer via madagascarvolunteer.com, with fees ranging from $720 to $5,795 depending on program and duration.

MRCI's operational footprint includes a 60,000 square meter Marine Protected Area (Turtle Towers) established in 2016 with the Ministry of Fisheries, encompassing 16 artificial reefs, ongoing coral transplantation, 12 Safe Turtle Nesting Zones, and protected forest habitat. Core technical methods include sea turtle facial recognition (742 individuals identified), proprietary artificial reef construction (concrete domes, steel frames, ship and castle designs), coral fragment out-planting using nylon cable ties, and acoustic bat surveying. Data feeds into global platforms including Internet of Turtles and PADI AWARE's Dive Against Debris program.

Revenue is generated entirely through volunteer program fees and PADI diving certification courses (Open Water through Dive Master, $170-$730). MRCI has welcomed over 3,500 volunteers across 13 years and reports a roster of 20+ global partners including PADI, CNRO, Plastic Oceans, Green Fins, and Ocean Conservancy. The organization is founder-led, privately held, and has no disclosed external funding. Customer base is composed of individual gap-year travelers, students, mid-career professionals, and small groups seeking purpose-driven travel; local Malagasy communities and remote island healthcare recipients constitute beneficiary rather than paying segments.

Name

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

Legal name

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

Website

https://madagascarvolunteer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is a Madagascar-based non-profit operating since 2013 that runs fee-paying volunteer programs in marine, sea turtle, and forest conservation, alongside community development, teaching, and medical outreach, serving gap-year travelers, students, and mid-career professionals globally from its Nosy Komba base camp.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Volunteer Programs

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Conservation & Citizen-Science Experiences (reef monitoring, turtle walks) (THAAAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dive Centers & Scuba Training (PADI/SSI, certifications) (THAAAIAA), Diving Experiences (Scuba Dives, Dive Trips, PADI/SSI Courses) (THAJAJAD), Dive & Snorkel Guides / Dive Masters (Boat-Based & Shore-Based) (THAAALAC), Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Conservation volunteer programs
• Marine conservation
• Sea turtle monitoring
• Forest conservation
• Community development volunteers

Headquarters

HQ city

Nosy-be

HQ country

Madagascar

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Volunteer Program Fees: Fees charged to volunteers for participation in conservation and community development programs. Fees range from $720 to $5,795 depending on program type and duration. Programs include Marine Conservation, Forest Conservation, Sea Turtle Monitoring, English Teaching, Community Development, Medical Assistance, and Content Creation.
2. PADI Diving Certification Courses: Revenue from PADI diving courses including Open Water ($460), Advanced Open Water ($360), Emergency First Response ($170), Rescue Diver ($380), and Dive Master ($730). Courses include performance-based learning with practical elements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

MRCI is a Madagascar-based conservation NGO that runs fee-based volunteer programs on Nosy Komba island, including Marine Conservation, Sea Turtle Monitoring, Forest Conservation, English Teaching, Community Development, Medical Volunteer, and Content Creation programs. The organization also operates an on-site PADI-certified Diving School offering Open Water through Dive Master courses, and delivers its services through a managed campsite (Turtle Cove) with inclusive accommodation, meals, in-country transport, and 24/7 staff support.

Product overview

MRCI offers a portfolio of volunteer programs centered around conservation and community development on Nosy Komba island, Madagascar. The core offering consists of seven volunteer programs: Marine Conservation (with coral restoration and artificial reef projects), Sea Turtle Monitoring, Forest Conservation, English Teaching, Community Development, Medical Assistance, and Content Creation. A PADI-certified Diving School provides certification courses (Open Water through Dive Master) that support the marine conservation programs. All programs operate from MRCI's Turtle Cove base camp, with participants contributing to ongoing scientific research and conservation initiatives while gaining hands-on field experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Marine Conservation Volunteer Program Hands-on marine conservation program where volunteers participate in underwater surveys, coral restoration, artificial reef construction, and reef monitoring to protect Madagascar's marine ecosystems, based on Nosy Komba for 4-12 weeks.
• Sea Turtle Monitoring Program Conservation program focused on protecting endangered sea turtles through nesting site identification, nest protection, hatchling monitoring, and population surveys using facial recognition scale-pattern photography, available 1-12 weeks.
• Forest Conservation Volunteer Program Field research and conservation program protecting the Sambirano forests around Nosy Komba through wildlife monitoring, biodiversity surveys, reforestation, invasive species removal, and acoustic bat surveying, available 1-12 weeks.
• English Teaching Program Volunteer program teaching English to children, teenagers, and adults in Nosy Komba and Nosy Be communities to improve educational outcomes and tourism employment prospects, available 1-12 weeks.
• Community Development Program Infrastructure development program supporting local communities through construction projects including classrooms, sanitation systems, pathways, bridges, and water access improvements, available 1-12 weeks.
• Medical Volunteer Program Healthcare outreach initiative providing medical care, health education, and support to underserved communities through community clinics and mobile medical outreach on Nosy Komba and surrounding islands, available 1-12 weeks.
• Content Creators Program Digital volunteer program where participants create photos, videos, and social media content documenting MRCI's conservation and community programs for marketing and awareness purposes.
• MRCI PADI Diving School PADI-certified diving school offering courses from beginner to professional levels including Open Water ($460), Advanced Open Water ($360), Emergency First Response ($170), Rescue Diver ($380), and Dive Master ($730) certifications, supporting MRCI's marine conservation programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 88% hatchling success rate for monitored Safe Nesting Zones (2025 record)
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ministry of Fisheries and Marine ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Government ministry that collaborated with MRCI to declare 60,000 square meters of reef as a Marine Protected Area (Turtle Towers). Continued partnership on marine conservation policy and implementation.
• PADIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRCI operates an on-site PADI Diving School offering Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Emergency First Response, Rescue Diver, and Dive Master certifications. PADI is the world's most respected scuba diving certification organization, and this partnership enables MRCI volunteers to earn globally recognized diving credentials while contributing to marine conservation.
• CNRO (Centre National de Recherches Océanographiques)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Madagascar's national oceanographic center for sea turtle conservation. MRCI contributes data to this government body and collaborates on marine research initiatives including population assessments and conservation strategies.
• Plastic OceansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization focused on reducing plastic pollution in oceans. MRCI collaborates on beach cleanup initiatives and marine debris management as part of its conservation mission.
• Green FinsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN Environment initiative promoting sustainable diving and snorkeling practices. MRCI implements Green Fins principles at its dive operations to minimize environmental impact.
• Oceanographic Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal research institution on Nosy Be where MRCI volunteers assist staff with improving English language skills for international collaboration. Collaborative relationship supporting both education and research objectives.
• Internet of Turtles (IoT)coreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal database using AI to track turtle population trends. MRCI contributes its collected data on individual turtle identifications to this international conservation technology platform, enabling global population monitoring.
• PADI AWARE FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRCI divers participate in Dive Against Debris program, contributing underwater debris data to this global PADI initiative. Partnership supports marine conservation through citizen science and data collection.
• Ocean ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for beach cleanup initiatives addressing plastic pollution at low tide on Nosy Komba. Supports MRCI's community engagement and environmental protection activities.
• University PartnershipsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMRCI serves as a field-study hub for international universities and students, providing research opportunities and academic collaboration in conservation and marine biology.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ): New Zealand-based voluntourism platform placing volunteers across 40+ destinations including conservation and marine programs in Madagascar (via local partners). Comparable in offering tiered, weekly-priced volunteer packages to international participants.
• Earthwatch Institute: Citizen-science nonprofit connecting paying volunteers to field research expeditions worldwide, with strong marine and wildlife expedition offerings. Comparable in combining paid field participation with structured scientific data collection and conservation outcomes.
• Blue Ventures: UK-based marine conservation social enterprise running volunteer programs focused on coral reef monitoring, community fisheries and citizen science in Madagascar and other tropical coastal locations. Directly comparable to MRCI's marine conservation and community development volunteer model with global volunteer recruitment.
• Projects Abroad: Large international voluntourism operator running marine conservation, teaching, and community development programs across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Comparable paid volunteer program portfolio and direct-to-consumer online booking model.
• Frontiers (formerly Frontier): Long-running UK conservation volunteer organization offering marine, wildlife, and community programs in Madagascar and dozens of other countries. Comparable structure: paid volunteer placements, PADI dive school, marine protected area research, and citizen science outputs.
• GVI (Global Vision International): International volunteer and conservation organization offering marine, wildlife, and community programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with PADI dive center affiliations. Closely comparable program structure, certifications, and target customer segments.

Regional players

• African Impact: African-focused volunteer travel company with marine conservation, wildlife, and community programs in countries including South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. Overlapping model but operating in different sub-Saharan geographies.

Others

• Plastic Oceans: International nonprofit partnering with MRCI on marine debris and beach cleanup initiatives. Adjacent ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, but comparable as a marine conservation NGO with corporate and volunteer engagement.
• Sustainable Travel International: Nonprofit working with travel operators on sustainability standards and community impact. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in MRCI's sustainability and community-development ecosystem.

Emerging players

• SEE Turtles: US-based nonprofit focused on sea turtle conservation through volunteer trips, adoptions, and partnerships. Narrower than MRCI but directly comparable on the sea turtle citizen-science and conservation-tourism overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MadagascarVolunteer
• Instagraminstagram.com/madagascarvolunteer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/madagascarvolunteer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute