By Maryanne W. WAWERU

From 4 – 8 November 2024, over 80 participants gathered in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, for the regional inception workshop of the second edition of the Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Lot 2 programme –commonly referenced as the WISH 2 Lot 2 project.

WISH 2 is a remarkable programme aimed at scaling up support for integrated sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services in several developing countries in Africa. WISH 2 is the largest part of the WISH Dividend programme, which is funded by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The purpose of the inception workshop was to induct partners into the new project, which was signed in September 2024 between IPPF and FCDO. IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all, while FCDO is a ministerial department of the UK Government which leads the UK’s diplomatic, development and consular work around the world.

WISH 2 Lot 2 follows the successful implementation of the first lot of the WISH programme (WISH2ACTION) which was implemented from 2018 – 2024, and was led by IPPF. The implementing countries for WISH 2 include Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Zambia. 

Participants at the inception meeting included IPPF’s Member Associations (MAs) drawn from six of the seven WISH 2 countries (except Somalia where IPPF does not have an affiliate), representatives of FCDO, representatives of the Ministries of Health (MoH) from the WISH 2 countries, as well as the project’s Evidence and Learning partner.

Also present were the WISH 2 consortium partners: Ipas, International Rescue Committee (IRC), John Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (JHUCCP), and Options. IPPF Africa Region (IPPFAR) is the lead agency for the consortium.

The Promise of WISH 2: Reducing Unsafe Abortions, Preventable Deaths And Unmet Family Planning Needs

Globally, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest fertility rates (4.6 births per woman), high levels of unmet need for family planning (25%) and highest maternal mortality rates (the region accounted for around 70% of maternal deaths of the estimated global maternal deaths in 2020). Sub-Saharan Africa also has the highest estimated proportion of unsafe abortions in the world, according to the Guttmacher Institute.

To address these challenges, the WISH 2 project is estimated to support 4.2 million women to access SRHR services, avert 3.2 million unintended pregnancies, 1 million unsafe abortions and 5,600 maternal deaths. Through its activities, the project will support achievement of the FP2030 commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on gender equality (target 5.6) and health and well-being (targets 3.7 and 3.1).

How WISH 2 Supports IPPF’s ‘Come Together’ Strategy

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the inception workshop, Ms. Gallianne Palayret, Deputy Director at IPPFAR, said that the five-year WISH 2 project is aimed at ensuring that vulnerable and marginalized populations including adolescents, youth, women, persons with disabilities, people living in extreme poverty and communities in humanitarian crises situations are supported to have a greater voice, choice, and control over their SRHR.

“It is important to note that the objectives of WISH 2 are perfectly aligned with the tenets of IPFF’s ‘Come Together’ strategy, which seeks to broaden access to the enjoyment of sexual and reproductive dignity and well-being for all. As outlined in its strategy, IPPF, through its different programmes, is committed to upholding SRHR for those who are left out, locked out or left behind. Indeed, WISH 2 will significantly contribute to IPPF’s strategic goals,” she said.

Generating Evidence-Based Practices for Global SRHR Advancement

Dr. Elias Girma, the WISH 2 Lead at IPPF Africa Region, said that the project will support the implementing countries to be more ambitious in advancing comprehensive SRHR for women and girls.

“WISH 2 will also improve the enabling environment for SRHR and gender equality. The project will work towards ensuring sustainable, inclusive access of integrated SRHR services by increasing access to quality, voluntary family planning and other comprehensive sexual reproductive health services,” he said.

Dr. Girma added that as part of its programming, WISH 2 will generate evidence-based innovations and practices that will be shared globally to increase women’s choice and access to SRH services and rights.

Building Sustainable Solutions Through Strategic Partnerships

While avowing that comprehensive sexual reproductive health and rights are key to unlocking the potential, agency and freedoms of women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa, Ms. Caroline Wood, WISH 2’s Lead from FCDO acknowledged the contribution of the project in delivering on the UK’s priorities.

“FCDO is keen on sustainability through building and strengthening strategic partnerships at country levels. WISH 2 will lay great emphasis on a strong coordination mechanism between SRHR stakeholders at country levels including Ministries of Health, Government agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-Governmental organizations (NGOs) and other key players in ensuring that project implementation is driven by the priorities and needs of the countries. The project will further provide policy support to strengthen health systems, reform policies and laws, improve Government ownership and domestic financing, and strengthen accountability to improve SRHR,” she said.

Participant’s recognition of WISH 2’s relevance

Mr. Eyasu Amante, the WISH 2 Project Manager in IPPF’s MA in Ethiopia -the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE) highlighted the significance of the relevance of the project, more so in addressing the key challenges facing Ethiopia’s women and girls.

“Teenage pregnancy is a major public health issue in Ethiopia, with the prevalence rate being a worrying 13%. Teen pregnancies leave a trail of negative outcomes for teenage mothers and their babies, and WISH 2 will play a key role in addressing this problem. The inception workshop was an excellent opportunity for all partners to comprehensively understand the project, it’s objectives and outcome areas. We were also able to discuss how to develop joint workplans with the MoH and other consortium partners, which will enable us to better achieve the expected results,” he said. 

Commitment from Governments for WISH 2

Participating MoH officials recognized the value of WISH 2 and underscored their commitment to supporting all partners in implementation of the project’s activities.

Ms. Safaa Bakhite Alkhalil from the Ministry of Health in Sudan noted the timeliness of the project, more so in light of the current conflict facing the country. Over 8.1 million people have been displaced since the conflict began in April 2023.

“The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the country, with the most affected population being women and girls. The MoH continues to experience significant challenges in providing health services to its people including family planning and other sexual reproductive health services, with the conflict having caused a significant breakdown in the health system. This means that millions of people are missing out on SRH services because they cannot access them. Many women and girls are also facing harrowing experiences related to sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) incidents, which is utterly devastating,” she said.

Ms.  Alkhalil added that various partners, notably IPPF’s MA in the country, the Sudan Family Planning Association  (SFPA) has for decades been a reliable partner in addressing the population’s SRH challenges and delivering on respective services.

“SPFA has always been our right hand in SRHR matters, and we look forward to this continued partnership. Together, we will work towards ensuring that many internally displaced populations (IDPs) can access much-needed SRH services through this project. The intents of WISH 2, such as improved access to SRH information and services for women and girls, reduced preventable maternal deaths, responding to SGBV and female genital mutilation (FGM) are aligned with those of the MoH. The WISH 2 project is a great boost to the achievement of our strategic goals as a ministry and as a country, and we look forward to working with all partners for the achievement of success,” she said.

Dr. Abdulkadir Wehliye Afrah from MoH Somalia underscored the importance of effective collaboration between partners.

“Somalia is plagued by high maternal, infant and under-5 mortality rates –which are among the highest in the world. We remain dedicated to reducing these rates and as a Ministry, appreciate the collaboration of like-minded partners such as those in the WISH 2 consortium, who complement our efforts to doing so,” he said.

Dr. Afrah reiterated the Ministry of Health’s commitment to facilitating the implementation of the WISH 2 project in the country.

“We were involved in WISH2ACTION, and with the successful evidence-based outcomes it had for Somalia’s women and girls, we look forward to achieving even more in WISH 2. The MoH remains dedicated to supporting all partners and further appreciates WISH 2’s recognition of the ministry as a worthwhile partner of the project,” he said.   

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