About EmpowHER: EmpowHER (Ensuring Inclusive SRHR Delivery for Women, Girls and Marginalised Communities) is a six-year initiative with three key priority areas: Increasing access to quality, person-centred abortion care. Empowering young people to act on their sexual and reproductive rights by expanding access to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE). This is delivered through our CSE Centres of Excellence in Ghana, Togo and Colombia.  Pushing back against the anti-rights agenda through coalition and movement-building, as well as advocacy work with our Member Associations. This restricted-funded project will support IPPF’s Strategy 2028 and donor commitments to advance the health and rights of women and girls in all their diversity around the world, ensuring that they can decide what to do with their bodies, their lives, and their futures. Donor: Global Affairs Canada Implementing MAs: Bénin (Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille) Burkina Faso (ABBEF), Colombia (Profamilia), Ecuador (CEMOPLAF), Ghana (PPAG), Guinea-Bissau (AGUIBEF), Kenya (RHN), Mauritania, (AMPF) Pakistan (FPAP), Sudan (SFPA), Togo (ATBEF), Uganda (RHU), and Zambia (PPAZ).  Duration: 1st April 2024 – 31st March 2030 (6 years) Total Budget: CAD $48,000,000 

By Alejandra Garcia In the bustling halls of the CSW68, amidst discussions on global issues and women's rights, the FON Project carved out a space to spotlight an essential aspect of Advancing Equality: Financing with Feminist Approaches. This parallel event gathered a distinguished panel featuring voices from diverse backgrounds, each offering unique perspectives on the crucial role of feminist funding in promoting gender equality worldwide.  Carolina Calle, a sex worker and human rights defender from Colombia, shared her experiences alongside Shelani Palihawadana, Program Director at Youth Advocacy Network Sri Lanka, Tori Chakma representing Supporting People and Rebuilding Communities in Bangladesh, Mar Merita Blat, Head of Mission Gender at the French Development Agency (AFD), and Marie Josiane Tra Lou, from Initiative Tile in Cote d’Ivoire. Guiding the conversation was Aminata Ba, FON Project Manager from IPPF. The panel's discussions delved into the heart of the matter, highlighting the indispensable role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in economically empowering survivors of gender-based violence, particularly in the Global South. At the core of the discourse was the transformative power of feminist funding and its impact on advancing gender equality on a global scale.  Key insights emerged from the dynamic exchange, emphasizing the urgent need for direct support to feminist movements, especially in regions with fewer resources. The importance of funding dedicated explicitly to women's rights and feminist organizations was underscored, alongside the advocacy for flexible, multi-year grants that offer core support. Such funding mechanisms empower organizations to allocate resources based on their priorities, fostering sustainability and autonomy.  Moreover, the panel shed light on the significance of recognizing and supporting small, informal community groups. Bridging the funding gap and enabling mid-sized women's groups to access more substantial resources emerged as critical strategies for amplifying the impact of feminist funding initiatives. Calls for the decolonization of funding practices, feminist accountability, and a transformation of power dynamics within funding structures resonated throughout the discussions. As the event concluded, participants reflected on actionable recommendations for governments to enhance fiscal regulations supporting medium and informal feminist organizations. The collective commitment to advancing gender equality through feminist financing approaches was palpable, igniting a sense of hope and determination among attendees.  In closing, the FON Project's event at CSW68 serves as a beacon of inspiration for all stakeholders invested in gender equality. Through collaborative efforts and a steadfast dedication to feminist principles in financing, meaningful change can be realized, empowering the feminist movement worldwide. Together, let us continue to strive for a more equitable and just future for all.   

By Martine Aminata Ouedraogo, Youth Program Professional Coordination Assistant, IPPF Africa Region, based in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Burkina Faso’s population is predominantly young. Those under 15 years of age represent 45.3%, while 64.2% of the population is under 24 years of age, and 77.9% is under 35 years of age. (Source) From 4 to 11 March 2023, I was part of an IPPF Africa Regional Office mission led by Regional Director Mrs. Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry to the IPPF Member Association in Burkina Faso, the Association Burkinabè pour le Bien Être et la Famille (ABBEF). The purpose of this mission was to present the youth transformation program, Stream 2, to the country's authorities and partners. The "Youth in Action for Gender Transformation" project is a two-year catalytic project led by ABBEF together with a consortium of IPPF Member Associations in Mali, Niger, India, Tunisia, Togo, and an external youth organization, the African Youth and Adolescents Network on Population and Development (AFRIYAN). AFRIYAN is a non-governmental organization present in several regions of Africa, including in Burkina Faso. The Stream 2 program is part of the strengthening of human rights and the meaningful engagement of youth in gender issues. During the mission, the IPPF team met with various Government officials and key stakeholders who are influential in contributing to the successful implementation of the project. These included the Minister of Health and Public Hygiene and the Minister of Human Rights. The partners are UNFPA BURKINA, Pathfinder Burkina, USAID Burkina, and Amnesty International Burkina. As a young Burkinabe woman aware of the fact that the population of my country is predominantly young, I believe that this project will foster the leadership development of my fellow youth. The project will enable us to freely develop the design and implementation of our youth program, to participate as actors in decision-making for the development of our localities, and to take on leadership roles while acting on social norms to address power inequalities and privilege between people of different sexes. It will also contribute to the empowerment of women, girls and people with diverse sexual orientations and identities. The actions planned by ABBEF for the successful implementation of the project include the production of materials and content covering Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender equality; the use of channels and approaches according to the specificity of each target group to raise awareness in and out of school; the provision of sexual reproductive health (SRH) services through high-impact interventions; the promotion of gender equality through the "positive masculinity and CSE teaching" approach. I believe that the "positive masculinity" approach, which is an approach aimed at involving men, boys, and adolescents in the development processes of egalitarian and inclusive societies and the promotion of gender equality through awareness raising in schools, extra-curricular activities and in our different communities will have a real impact on the achievement of this program. Also, for an enabling environment, community power holders will be trained on SRHR. Finally, spaces for dialogue will be created as well as partnerships with public, private and community media. According to Stephanie Thombiano, ABBEF’s Youth Action Movement *(YAM) President, “Stream 2 is a transformative program, that focuses on young people as actors in the transformation of social norms regarding gender. I think it is a great asset for our member associations to run this program in consortium with young people.” “Youth are the hope of Burkina Faso, and it is therefore important to empower them. It is important that their actions and contributions are valued. Youth must be part of the deal,” said the IPPF Africa Regional Director, Mrs. Petrus-Barry, during the meeting with the members of the ABBEF Youth Action Movement (YAM). This mission to my home country, Burkina Faso, was very insightful for me, in the sense that I could really see the positive impact of the youth transformation program in the country, especially in the current security context, and strengthen my capacities in terms of team management.   *YAM: In 2004, in recognition of the importance of effective and meaningful youth participation in youth programs, the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) established the Youth Action Movement (YAM) as a primary means of building youth capacity, improving youth participation in governance, leadership and management of youth programs. The YAM brings together young volunteers aged 10 to 24 in IPPF Africa Region Member Associations.   Martine Aminata P. Ouedraogo started as a Program Intern at IPPF Africa Region and later became a Coordination Assistant for the Professional Youth Program at the West and Central Africa Sub-Regional Office of the International Planned Parenthood Federation based in Abidjan. Quote: “My journey at IPPF has been very rewarding. Today, more than ever, as a youth activist and leader, I feel very capable and well equipped to defend and carry the voice of young people all over the world, and especially in Africa. All young people should have access to information about their rights and be able to claim them. It is important for us to be able to express ourselves and our sexuality in a pleasant and healthy way.”

  Feminist Opportunities Now (FON) is a programme that aims to build capacity of feminist organisations via subgrants to enhance more diverse and resilient Civil Society Organisations when addressing and responding to gender-based violence, inequalities, discrimination and other human rights violations related to gender. International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) is the FON consortium lead, with the other consortium partners being Médecins du Monde (MdM-FR), Creating Resources for Empowerment and Action Inc. (CREA), the International Federation on Human Rights (FIDH) and Empow’Her (EH). The programme is funded by the French Government via the French Development Agency (AFD). The actions of the consortium's member organizations are guided by feminist principles and a strong commitment to promoting human rights and combating inequalities and discrimination, particularly against women and girls. With extensive experience in the themes covered by the program's mandates and complementary expertise, they provide a solid foundation for the program's comprehensive and holistic approach. Where: Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Republic of Guinea, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Sri Lanka. When: 2022-2026 The Challenge  Gender inequalities continue to impact half of the world’s population on a global scale and remain one of the primary barriers to human development. The FON Programme aims to tackle these inequalities by addressing several key challenges: Insufficient or ineffective implementation of comprehensive laws, policies, and legal frameworks to combat gender inequalities globally, which has resulted in worsening disparities. Inadequate application of these frameworks has further widened inequalities and increased the vulnerability of women and girls, particularly those with disabilities, living with HIV, sex workers, and individuals of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (SOGI). The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated social and economic issues, leading to a rise in gender-based violence (GBV). Insufficient involvement of people with disabilities (who make up 15% of the global population), LGBTI+ individuals, sex workers, and people living with HIV/AIDS in initiatives to advocate for their rights, resulting in limited participation in preventing and responding to violence. A lack of support for emerging or relatively new Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), many of which are not formally recognized. Despite their enthusiasm and dynamic efforts, these organizations continue to face obstacles that limit their ability to combat GBV and promote women's rights. The absence of an innovative and flexible financing system to enhance the contributions of diverse CSOs in the Global South toward reducing GBV. Objectives of the Programme  To Improve the sustainability of feminist CSOs at the organizational and technical levels by proposing an inclusive approach to capacity building.   To support the resilience and diversity of feminist CSOs through access to flexible, sustainable financing mechanisms tailored to small and/or informal and/or marginalized CSOs. To strengthen a networked movement of feminist CSOs in the Global South, linking these CSOs and national, regional, and international networks, to make their voices heard on the public stage.     To promote innovation at all levels of the programme by the CSOs themselves and the consortium member organisations.   Targets of the Programme  Feminist CSOs working with and/or for the various structurally excluded groups. Activist organizations working with or led by people who may face particularly high discrimination. Gender inequalities and GBV, such as members of the LGBTI+ community and in general people with diverse sexual orientation and gender identities and Gender Expressions (SOGIE). People living with disabilities. People with HIV/AIDS.  Sex workers.  Indirectly, targets of advocacy activities (regional bodies, national / local authorities, etc) Approaches of the Programme  FON seeks to empower feminist organizations through subgrants to create more diverse and resilient CSOs in their efforts to address and respond to gender-based violence, inequalities, discrimination, and other human rights violations related to gender. To support this mission, FON will establish Regional Coordination and Advisory Committees in each region—Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These committees will play a crucial role in promoting inclusiveness and identifying opportunities for advocacy. The subgranting process will be structured into three funding windows, with the first call for proposals set to launch in April 2023: Window 1 : Boost The goal of this window is to enhance the capacity of feminist CSOs to navigate external challenges (such as political instability or insecurity) and internal obstacles (such as organizational difficulties, need for co-funding or additional program components). This window also provides flexibility, allowing CSOs to apply for grants to seize new opportunities in programming or advocacy. Window 2: Programmatic & Organizational Development This window is designed to support small and mid-sized CSOs aiming to grow their organizational, technical, and programmatic capacities. It aims to fund specific programs while simultaneously strengthening the overall capacity of the recipient organizations. Window 3: Synergies This window will provide funding for networks, movements, and alliances to carry out advocacy activities related to GBV and for organizations looking to join existing networks. It focuses on fostering network and alliance building and increasing visibility on national, regional, and international platforms.   Location Justification  Equity is a fundamental component of the FON implementation strategy. The programme will be carried out in 10 countries: six in Africa (Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Kenya, and Niger), two in Latin America (Colombia and Mexico), and two in Asia (Bangladesh and Sri Lanka). The selection of these locations was carefully considered based on the following criteria: Countries where there is a strong need for CSO support and a high potential for exchanges and collaborations. Locations with existing normative and policy frameworks that are not fully implemented or respected in national laws. Countries with significant and varied needs among their populations, indicating a broad potential for learning and training. Contexts where gender-based violence is prevalent, increasing the necessity for support to feminist CSOs. Opportunities for collaboration with other existing and/or new initiatives. Find out more about FON in English, French or Spanish  

Ouagadougou, 03 mars 2023- La Directrice Régionale de la Fédération Internationale Pour la Planification Familiale sera en visite au Burkina Faso du 06 au 11 mars 2023. Cette visite, la première de madame Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry depuis sa prise de fonction en décembre 2019 au bureau régional Afrique à Nairobi vise à accélérer et soutenir l’Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ABBEF) dans la réforme de la gouvernance de l'IPPF et dans la nouvelle orientation stratégique de la fédération. « Je suis enthousiasmée de visiter l’ABBEF, notre association membre du Burkina Faso qui œuvre depuis plus de 40 ans dans la promotion de la santé et des droits sexuels et reproductifs. Je viens également appuyer l’équipe de la gouvernance et de la direction dans le processus de la reforme qu’elles conduisent actuellement », a déclaré madame Petrus-Barry. La visite de Mme Petrus-Barry s’inscrit également dans le soutien du secrétariat à l’ABBEF pour la réussite de la mise en œuvre du projet « Youth In Action Transforming Gender Norms » porté par un consortium de six (06) organisations membres (au Mali, au Niger, au Togo, en Tunisie, en Inde et AfriYan) dont l’ABBEF assure le lead. Ce projet s’inscrit dans le renforcement des droits humains et notamment en ce qui concerne l’engagement significatif des jeunes dans les questions liées au genre.   Au cours de sa visite, Mme Petrus-Barry rencontrera des membres du gouvernement, des partenaires techniques et financiers, des organisations féministes et de jeunes en vue de renforcer le partenariat stratégique pour la promotion des droits humains. Pour M. Saibou KABORE, Président National de l’ABBEF « nous nous réjouissons d’accueillir la directrice régionale dans un moment charnière de l’évolution de notre association marquée par la transformation de l’architecture de notre gouvernance. Les échanges que nous aurons au cours de son séjour nous permettrons par ailleurs de renforcer la collaboration avec nos différents partenaires et le secrétariat de IPPF Région Afrique ». Créée en 1979, l’ABBEF est membre à part entière de l’IPPF depuis 1989, elle est accréditée par cette fédération.    Contact presse : Youssouf BA, Chargé de Plaidoyer et la Mobilisation des ressources, Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-être Familial (ABBEF), email : [email protected],  +226 70 74 82 63 A PROPOS DE L’ABBEF Créée en 1979, l’Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Être Familial (ABBEF) est une association nationale à but non lucratif bénévole et apolitique. Elle est pionnière de la planification familiale au Burkina Faso. L’ABBEF est une des structures clés de la société civile qui accompagne l’Etat dans le domaine de la santé sexuelle et la reproduction, notamment la planification familiale au Burkina Faso depuis plus de 40 ans. Elle est affiliée à la Fédération Internationale pour la Planification Familiale (IPPF). Elle a reçu de nombreuses distinctions de l’Etat dont la dernière en 2012 est celle de Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mérite. L’ABBEF jouit du statut d’association d’utilité publique depuis 1994. L’ABBEF est présente dans 10 régions du pays et 32 districts sanitaires sur les 70 à travers différents projets. Elle dispose de six (06) centres de santé (cliniques) fixes dont deux (02) pour l’offre de services de santé sexuelle au profit des adultes (Ouagadougou et Bobo- Dioulasso) et quatre (04) centres d’écoute pour jeunes pour l’offre de services conviviaux aux adolescents et aux jeunes dans les villes de Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou et Koupéla. Elle intervient également à travers l’offre de services par les équipes mobiles différentes zones d’intervention du pays. En 2022, l’ABBEF a fourni : 681012 services de Planification Familiale. 3974 services de soins après avortement. 106404 services d’IST. 202209 services de VIH/SIDA. Contactez-nous sur www.abbef-bf.org  facebook. youtube. ,twitter.   A PROPOS DE L’IPPF REGION AFRIQUE La Fédération Internationale pour la Planification Familiale, région Afrique est l'une des principales organisations de prestation de services de santé sexuelle et reproductive (SSR) en Afrique, et l'une des principales voix de défense de la santé et des droits sexuels et reproductifs dans la région. Basée à Nairobi, au Kenya, l'objectif principal de l'IPPFAR est d'améliorer l'accès aux services de santé sexuelle et reproductive pour les jeunes, les hommes et les femmes les plus vulnérables d'Afrique subsaharienne. Soutenu par des milliers de bénévoles, IPPFAR s'attaque aux défis croissants du continent en matière de droits à la santé sexuelle et reproductive par le biais d'un réseau d'associations membres (AM) dans 40 pays. Pour ce faire, nous faisons de nos Associations Membres des entités capables de fournir et de maintenir des services de haute qualité, axés sur les jeunes et les populations les plus vulnérables. Nous travaillons avec les gouvernements, l'Union africaine, les commissions économiques régionales, le Parlement panafricain, les organes des Nations Unies, entre autres, pour élargir les engagements politiques et financiers en faveur de la santé et des droits sexuels et reproductifs en Afrique. Visitez notre site web. Suivez-nous sur Facebook, Twitter, Instagram et You Tube.

7 February 2023, Nairobi, Kenya – The International Planned Parenthood (IPPF) Africa Region in collaboration with the French Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, launches a new program which aims at strengthening feminist civil society organisations (CSOs) in 10 countries and over 3 continents – the Feminist Opportunities Now (FON) project. The Feminist Opportunities Now project will help small feminist local organisations become more diverse and resilient when addressing and responding to gender-based violence, inequalities, discrimination and other human rights violations related to gender. The program is funded by the French Government via the French Development Agency (AFD). This project will be implemented in 10 countries, including six in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya and potentially Niger). Others are Colombia, Mexico, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Speaking during the launch of the FON project held at the French Embassy in Nairobi on 7 February, the IPPF Africa Regional Director, Ms. Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry said “gender-based violence in all its forms is recognised as a human rights violation by the international human rights framework and jurisprudence. Gender inequality, power imbalance and lack of respect for human rights are often the root causes of such heinous acts and prevent survivors from accessing and enjoying their full sexual and reproductive health and rights. As human rights defenders, we must all take a stand and put a stop to these inexcusable acts.” The Feminist Opportunities Now is a project which is grounded on feminist principles with a deep commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights and the fight against inequalities and discrimination, especially against women and girls. END For media enquiries, please contact: Mahmoud Garga, Lead Specialist -Strategic Communication, Media Relations and Digital Campaigning, IPPF Africa Regional Office (IPPFARO) on [email protected] / Tel: +254 704 626 920 ABOUT THE FEMINIST OPPORTUNITIES NOW (FON) PROJECT The objective of the project Feminist Opportunities Now (FON), is to build the capacity of women's movements, via sub-grants to feminist organisations, with a particular effort to reaching small, often non-registered, organisations to address and respond to gender-based violence. The programme is developed based on an ecological model, using multi-disciplinary gender-transformative approaches. In addition to direct sub-granting (for € 7 million), FON will also provide a unique opportunity for longer-term mentorship to support feminist organisations in their overall development, with trainings specifically tailored to their needs. FON will also uniquely support the organisations to identify other/diverse sources of funding and also includes a research-action component to understand how these approaches can be scaled-up and made sustainable. ABOUT IPPF AFRICA REGION (IPPFAR) The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) is one of the leading sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service delivery organization in Africa, and a leading sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, the overarching goal of IPPFAR is to increase access to SRHR services to the most vulnerable youth, men and women in sub-Saharan Africa. Learn more about us on our website. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube. ABOUT THE FEMINIST OPPORTUNITIES NOW CONSORTIUM The consortium that will implement this project is composed of the International Federation for Family Planning Africa Regional Office as lead agency, Creating Resources for Empowerment and Action Inc. (CREA), Empow'Her (EH), the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and Médecins du Monde-France (MdM-FR).  

The project aims to strengthen the capacity of 6 MAs in and SARO to deliver high-quality SRH services in crises. Budget:  770,000 USD Donor: IPPF Solutions 2 Timeline: 2 Years ( March 2020–Dec 2022 ) Project implementation areas: Burkina Faso, Burundi, CAR, Maldives, Sudan, and Yemen Partners: UNFPA and national humanitarian actors Other interesting information: The project is designed to be led by MAs, as part of the Member Association-centric approach, with support from the regional offices and the Global Humanitarian Team. Innovative approaches: Operational research will be useful for measuring interventions’ impact and will highlight key challenges, suggest areas of improvement and good practices. Inclusion of LGBTQUIA and organisation's of persons with Disabilities in preparedness and planning. Lessons learned: Language barrier is a serious risk to project implementation if not properly addressed at design stage. Translation and interpretation costs should be significantly budgeted for when engaging English and French-speaking MAs as key project implementers.

From 2018 to 2020, funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the She Decides project, supported IPPF and its local partners in five priority countries – Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Malawi, and Mali – to expand their reach and impact in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), particularly for those who are most marginalized. During the project period, partners provided close to 17 million SRH services at their service delivery points, such as STI screenings, HIV testing, safe abortion, and counselling and access to modern contraceptives such as long-term injectables, surpassing the initial target by 770,000. The vast majority of clients receiving these services (76.5%) are those living below the poverty line, frequently at great distances from existing health services/facilities, who may be internally displaced as a result of humanitarian crises, and are often further marginalized on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Funding through She Decides enabled partners to develop and implement innovative strategies for reaching these populations and the most hard-to-reach regions that had some of the worst SRHR indicators. For example, In Malawi, our Member Association - Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) - expanded its service delivery to rural, under-served communities in four districts (Dedza, Dowa, Mzuzu and Lilongwe) through outreach services, and strengthened provision of a comprehensive package of integrated SRH services through static clinics in 12 districts. Over the course of implementation, FPAM reached approximately 555,186 (over 25 years) women and 659,382 (<25 years) girls with integrated SHR services. A particular focus of the project has been to increase the access of hard-to-reach youth to SRHR information and services, through Youth Life Centers, youth outreach clinics, and intensive involvement of youth in outreach activities and awareness-raising campaigns. In Mali, IPPF Member Association - Association Malienne pour la Promotion et la Protection de la Famille (AMPPF) - used multiple service delivery strategies to expand access to SRH services in some of the most under-served regions of the country, some of them affected by ongoing security risks. It includes the regions of Kayes, Koulikoro, Sikasso, Ségou, Mopti, Gao, and Bamako District. Over the course of the project, AMPPF provided 1,524,825 integrated SRH services to over 556,228 women and girls. AMPPF organized 857 community engagement activities, including outreach at highly attended community festivals, reaching an estimated 41,423 people with positive messages about SRHR. In addition to directly supporting services and community mobilization to reach specific vulnerable populations in each country, She Decides has helped boost partners’ advocacy efforts to champion sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in particular for a more enabling environment in which governments and other key decision-makers are committed to upholding and fulfilling SRHR. Through this project, partners completed 2,005 specific advocacy engagements. Partners contributed to 31 advocacy wins that engender greater respect and protection of SRHR and have long-term implications for the health and wellbeing of women and girls in project countries. Key high-level advocacy initiatives included: incorporation of SRHR in municipal development plans in project regions (Colombia); approval of the National Plan to Reduce Teen Pregnancy (Dominican Republic); increasing contraceptive security and transparency around SRH financing (Guatemala); advancing abortion law reform (Malawi); and advocating for the integration of SRH into the COVID-19 response (Mali). Underpinning these interventions was a deliberate effort to build partners’ overall sustainability through data and financial systems strengthening and sustainability efforts to improve their resilience to future shocks, whether from a sudden loss of donor funding or a crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic, which erupted in the last quarter of the project, tested this capacity as partners pivoted quickly to provide continuity of services and to advocate for the inclusion of SRHR as part of the emergency response. For more information, visit the project report: GAC/She Decides Report

The objective of the project is to build the capacity of women's movements, via sub-grants and organizational development support, especially for small organizations, often non-registered, to address and respond to gender-based violence. Budget:  14,000 000 EUR Donor: Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Timeline: 4 years (Start date – Q2 of 2022) Project implementation areas: Mexico and Columbia in Latin-America (led by MdM), Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Asia (led by CREA) and Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Guinea the Ivory Cost, Kenya and Mali (led by IPPFARO) Partners: IPPF ARO, Médecins du Monde (MdM), Creating Resources for Empowerment in Action (CREA), FIDH (International Federation on Human Rights) & Empow’Her. Other interesting information: It is the first time IPPF has received direct funding from AFD, the first time we are partnering with these new consortium partners and delivering on a large global project. The project is supporting CSOs in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mexico, Niger, Sri Lanka. 

  The project seeks to contribute to the reduction of gender inequalities through the empowerment of youth and the technical strengthening of local feminist CSOs towards the transformation of gender norms in favour of the sexual rights of adolescents and youth. Budget:  899,996 EUR Donor: Fonds de Solidarité pour les Projets Innovants (FSPi) Timeline: 2 Years (April 2021 – March 2023) Project implementation areas: Niger, Chad and Burkina Faso Partners: Association Nigérienne pour le Bien Êtr  e Familial (ANBEF), Association Burkinabè pour le Bien Être Familial (ABBEF), Association Tchadienne pour le Bien Être Familial (ASTBEF) and Association Togolaise pour le Bien Être Familial (ATBEF) Key achievements to date: 3 Member Association (MA) supported through MA-to-MA support from ATBEF, More than 600 trainers of trainees trained in Gender and SRH, 100 Youth and feminist associations strengthened in local communities, The organisation of more than 200 community talks on SRHR and gender equality, supported by approaches and channels adapted to the beneficiaries, made it possible to reach 2,299 people, including 1,374 girls and 925 adolescent boys and young people, on unwanted pregnancies, family planning, STIs, HIV/AIDS and contraception. Innovative approaches: This project uses the MA-to-MA Approach, south-south collaboration & Peer to Peer support where ATBEF is supporting the 3 implementing MAs. Active collaboration with Youth and feminist associations at grassroot level. Lessons learned:  Public and private collaboration is critical as well as the need to document best practices. The involvement of the central level (Ministries) in the implementation of the project positively influences the operational levels and strengthens their commitment to the project activities and makes them feel more accountable. Also, collaboration with the health, education and gender departments has enabled the project teams to benefit from technical support for access to pupils, teachers, and parents, to have an orientation on current policies in relation to the projects, and to be accompanied in the training.