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IPPF Africa Region’s Member Association in Cote d'Ivoire –The Association Ivoirienne pour le Bien-Etre Familial (AIBEF) on 7 September 2017 hosted a fruitful working session led by IPPFAR’s Regional Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou and ‘'The Challenge Initiative’s Deputy Director General Mr. Kojo Lokko. In attendance were the Executive Directors (EDs) of five IPPFAR Member Associations: Benin, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Senegal, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. The Challenge Initiative (TCI) presents a new approach to the implementation of family planning programs focusing on poor and young people from disadvantaged urban areas (slums), with municipalities as actors of choice. The purpose of the working session between IPPFAR Member Associations and TCI was to discuss strategic partnerships, and identify areas of collaboration and priorities. The meeting was characterized by various presentations and insightful discussions by all. Proposed action plans by the EDs were developed –based on The Challenge Initiative’s successful interventions in parts of West Africa. Dr. Yilma Melkamu from IPPF’s Central Office in London, as well as Dr. Haingo Rabearimonjy of IPPF AR’s head office in Nairobi also participated in the meeting. Mr. Kouakou and Mrs. Lokko called for increased collaboration and effective partnership opportunities between all entities. The Challenge Initiative is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. ************************************************************************************** RELEVER LA PREVALENCE CONTRACEPTIVE EN ZONE URBAINE : L’IPPF et THE CHALLENGE INITIATIVE (TCI) amorcent un partenariat Une séance de travail a réuni  le 07 septembre 2017 au Siège de l’Association Ivoirienne pour le Bien Etre Familial (AIBEF), une Délégation de l’IPPF conduite par le Directeur Régional du Bureau Régional Afrique, M Lucien Kouakou et celle de « The Challenge Initiative » avec à sa tête M Kojo Lokko, le Directeur Général Adjoint. La réunion s’est élargie à Cinq (05) Directeurs Exécutifs/Représentants des Associations Membres du Bénin, du Burkina Faso, du Nigeria, du Sénégal, de la Cote d’Ivoire et du Togo et aux Directeurs de Programme du Bureau Central, Dr Yilma Melkamu et du Bureau régional de l’IPPF, Dr. Haingo Rabearimonjy. La rencontre avait pour objectif de discuter des partenariats stratégiques et identifier les domaines de collaboration et les priorités. The Challenge Initiative (TCI) présente une nouvelle approche de mise en œuvre des programmes de planification familiale axée sur les populations pauvres et jeunes des milieux urbains défavorisés (bidonvilles) avec comme acteurs de choix les communes. A travers  les différentes présentations aussi bien de TCI que des Associations Membres de  l’IPPFRA et les échanges qui s’en sont suivis, il a été retenu de la poursuite des discussions au niveau des Départements des Programmes des 02 entités. Les DE des Associations Membres ont également  proposé des plans d’actions sur la base des interventions entamées par TCI dans les Pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest. Les 02 chefs de Délégation ont exprimé leur satisfaction sur la rencontre et se sont exhortés à continuer les échanges pour un partenariat effectif. Notons que TCI est une initiative financée par la Fondation Melinda et Bill GATE. Story by Joel Eklou, Communication and Resource Mobilization Manager, The Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF) For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook and Twitter

The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Inaugural Women’s Parliament has adopted The Access to Safe Abortion motion which was tabled by Honourable Thuli Dladla Member of Parliament of Swaziland. The adoption comes after a one-day meeting held on the 5th of July 2017 at the Eden Bleu Hotel, Mahe Island, Seychelles which was attended by Female Parliamentarians from the SADC States, Government Officials as well as representatives from IPPF Africa Region and other Civil Society Organisations. While moving the motion, Honourable Thuli Dladla told the House that the Commission had observed the general absence of Policy Standards and Guidelines on Safe Abortion in the SADC Region and further indicated that South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia had enacted progressive laws on access to safe abortion while Seychelles allows for abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, there are still limited grounds for abortion in other Southern Africa States. The motion recommends that the Forum (SADC-PF) must, among others, spearhead: the development of a Model Law on Access to Safe Abortion in the SADC Region; Member Parliaments must convene in-country consultations with young women and girls on Access to Safe Abortion; The Forum should urge all SADC Member Parliaments to decriminalise laws on abortion; Members of Parliament must promote peer learning and exchange visits to promote sharing of knowledge on access to reproductive health; A SADC Regional Consultative meeting for young women on access to safe abortion must be convened; and Member Parliaments must ensure that laws governing the age of consent must not restrict access to sexual and reproductive health services. The motion was seconded by Hon. Patricia Kainga, Member of Parliament, Malawi. Seconding the motion, Hon Kainga noted that the right to health requires the removal of all barriers interfering with access to health services, education and information, including sexual and reproductive health. Hon Kainga further stated that: “We must urgently give effect to the Protocol of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) which explicitly recognizes that the right to health includes access to safe and legal abortion, at a minimum, in certain circumstances.’’

Ms. Priya Kath, a vibrant Youth Action Movement (YAM) advocate and representative from IPPF’s South Asia Region (IPPF-SARO) recently attended the IPPF Africa Region Volunteerism and Governance workshop from 27 - 29 March 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop was attended by volunteers and staff from English-speaking Member Associations (MAs) in the IPPF Africa Region, who included; MA Chairpersons, Youth Action Movement (YAM) representatives , Executive Directors (EDs) and MA Governance Focal Point Persons. Created in 2005, the Youth Action Movement (YAM) is the youth arm of IPPFAR volunteer’s body based within the Member Associations (MAs), which catalyzes youth participation. The YAM plays a key role in identifying priority areas and needs for young people to be fed into the MA plans as well as the regional plans. This process enhances consultation and involvement of the youth. The structure further enables young people to advocate and be recognized, and empower them to be equal partners in programmatic decision making and resource allocation at all levels. In her presentation to participants, which focused on youth volunteerism, recruitment, engagement and retention, as well as youth – adult transition in IPPF, Ms. Kath, highlighted the importance of volunteerism among young people in various development causes, more so those touching on the sexual reproductive health and rights of young people. “The experience gained from the various opportunities one is exposed to as a youth volunteer is invaluable. For example, they are able to attend various national and international health forums where their knowledge on SRHR is increased. As YAM volunteers, they are also able to network with other like-minded individuals and organizations. At a personal level, the IPPF experience has built my capacity as a youth SRHR advocate immensely,” she said. Ms. Kath also lauded the Federation for its enviable practice of including young people in its governance and leadership structures. “Youth are involved in decision-making levels at the Member Associations, and are also eligible to become SARYN members. Two representatives from each MA (20%) makes 18 SARYN members. Elected members are also able to represent youth at the top echelons of management; the Regional Executive Committee (EXCO) and Governing Council (GC).” Sharing her own experiences, Ms. Kath said she joined the movement as a youth volunteer eight years ago at the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), where she then went on to be elected as a Youth Representative for IPPF’s South Asia Region (SARO). Ms. Kath currently serves as the alternate youth representative at the Governing Council. Being above 25 years, Ms. Kath has further been elected to a higher position, where she serves as an adult volunteer in the SARO Board. She encouraged young people from Africa to join the Youth Africa Movement in their local Member Associations, for purposes of gaining the wide range of benefits that come with this and also to continue contributing to the IPPF goals and objective in support of the marginalized and vulnerable in our society. Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region. For more updates on the work of IPPF Africa Region, follow us on Facebook and Twitter

IPPF Africa Region Member Associations (MAs) from 15 French-speaking countries recently participated in a three-day Volunteering and Governance workshop in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. The meeting was held at the Association Ivoirienne pour le Bien-Etre Familial (AIBEF) offices in the capital city. In his opening speech, Adv. Kweku Brenu, the IPPFAR President urged the MA and Youth Action Movement (YAM) representatives to intensify their commitment to the spirit of volunteerism to the Federation, in a bid to advance development gains for the continent. Also in attendance was Mr. Lucien Kouakou, the Regional Director, IPPFAR, who acknowledged the invaluable role that IPPFAR volunteers continue play towards the success of the organization. Young people from the Youth Action Movement (YAM), led by the chair, Ms. Adama Dicko, also attended the meeting. The youth shared their experiences on their volunteer work; their successes, challenges and the benefits they have received as a result of their engagements. Information source: Joel Eklou, Communication and Resource Mobilization Manager, The Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF) For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook and Twitter

10 April 2017, Nairobi, Kenya. From 2012 – 2015, IPPF Africa Region implemented a ‘Networks’ project that involved the close collaboration of African journalists and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that have a bias in reproductive health -working together in the promotion of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) information and access to services. The project also focused on calls for strengthened commitment to reproductive health issues by Governments, Legislators and other key stakeholders, including calls for policy reviews and change. The project worked with a strong team of African journalists who were involved in developing accurate reports on various issues surrounding SRHR, including family planning and maternal health. These reports were key to influencing policy makers and other development actors through promoting discussions and highlighting areas of improvement. The journalists worked under the umbrella of the IPPFAR SRHR Journalists Network Group. Some of the activities of the first phase of the project included: training of journalists in various aspects of SRHR, awarding of journalists’ grants to facilitate their production of quality and in-depth SRHR stories, facilitating their attendance to various national, regional and international SRHR events, as well as two media awards that recognized exemplary SRHR reporting among African journalists. Following the success of the Networks project, and with the aim of enhancing the positive outcomes achieved in the first phase, the David and Lucille Packard Foundation has renewed it's funding to IPPFAR. The second phase of the project will be implemented in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), and is themed around the advancement of Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR). The three-year project will adopt a comprehensive and coordinated approach to have the Journalists' Network and the partners’ coordination strategies mutually supporting each other and focusing on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and youth-friendly services. The project has kicked off today, with a three-day regional induction meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, that has brought together over 30 members of the IPPF Africa Region journalists network, Communication and Advocacy Officers from Member Associations, as well as Youth Action Movement members. Speaking during the opening ceremony, Mr. Lucien Kouakou, IPPF Africa Regional Director, acknowledged the great role that African journalists continue to play in regards to the achievement of Africa’s development goals. “There is no doubt that journalists are key influencers in the realization of positive change in Africa, as they are instrumental in exploring new topics and fostering public debate on important sexual and reproductive health issues. Through their in-depth and quality reports, journalists have the unmatched ability to exert pressure on governments to fulfil their mandates –especially those touching on public health. IPPF Africa Region will continue to work with African journalists in fostering the continent’s development, and achieving reproductive health gains in the continent,” he said. For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook and Twitter

Wednesday 8 March, 2017 By Mr. Lucien Kouakou, IPPF Africa Region Director Today, IPPF Africa Region joins the world in marking the International Women’s Day (IWD); a day set aside to celebrate the social, economic, political and cultural achievements of women. For many years, the role of women was confined to the periphery, where they were hardly recognized for their value and important contribution to society’s development. But times are changing, and women today are not only being acknowledged for their worth, but are also being encouraged to carve out their own identity as individuals; as women. This process of recognition has been gradual and has spanned over decades. Despite the gradual spate in acknowledging the contribution of women, the time has come for us to celebrate the achievements that have been made, and look forward to even more accomplishments. IPPFAR has been instrumental in this process, and we pride ourselves in being an organization that has always put women at the heart of our programmes. Our programmes are designed in a way that ensures that our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and cousins have their reproductive health and rights concerns addressed in a timely, effective, affordable and sustained manner. Further, IPPFAR’s commitment to gender equality and respect of sexual rights is affirmed in the 2016 - 2022 Strategic Framework as an absolute principle that guides its actions. The Federation is driven by progressive statutory documents and supportive policies that guarantee a fair working environment and decision-making powers both for women and men. IPPF Africa Region continually endeavors to support Africa’s women in their quest to realize their full potential. We are deeply committed to addressing the various challenges and barriers they face in their journey to this achievement. Through various advocacy efforts, IPPFAR and its Member Associations are centrally involved in creating and championing supportive policy environments that are aimed at reducing the various health, social, economic, political and other inequalities that affect women and girls. We have been involved in several policy consultative processes in many African countries with respect to the improvement of women’s rights. As we honor all women today, I urge you all to seize all available opportunities that empower women in all spheres of their lives. Take it upon yourself to seek strategic partnerships with institutions that will support this quest. It is also our responsibility to encourage women to adapt to technological changes that are necessary for them to survive and thrive in today’s environment. I further encourage all of those in the IPPFAR network to increase their positive actions towards women. It essential and imperative to acknowledge and recognize the fact that women are fundamental to the achievement of Africa’s developmental goals as set out in the AU Agenda 2063. Let us continue to engage in initiatives that are geared towards the advancement of Africa’s women, and let us be #BeBoldForChange by standing by women today, promoting their rights, speaking up for them and encouraging them to raise their own voices. I wish you all a Happy International Women’s Day.