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Monday 7 February 2017,  Nairobi, Kenya The IPPF Africa Region Director, Mr. Lucien Kouakou has today launched a kick-off meeting for a new project focusing on women’s rights. The "State of the African Woman” campaign aims to contribute to securing, realizing and extending women’s rights as enshrined in African Union policies in sub-Saharan Africa. Funded by the European Union, the three-year advocacy, communication and awareness-raising campaign will be implemented by IPPF Africa Region as the lead beneficiary, with five organizations being co-beneficiaries, and two others as Associates. The campaign focuses on strengthening the civil society’s contribution to promote the implementation of the AU Protocol on the Rights of Women (Maputo Protocol) and the Maputo Plan of Action (MPoA) at four decision-making levels across sub-Saharan Africa; continental, regional, national and sub-national levels. The ability of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to push for the implementation of policies is of greatly acknowledged across the continent. “This unique coalition of youth-serving organizations, faith-based organizations, feminist groups and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) activists will work towards the implementation of the State of the African Woman campaign across Africa. The combined strengths of these implementing partners will create a more united and collaborative civil society voice on women’s rights, reaching large and diverse constituencies and amplifying their ability to leverage change on a higher scale,” said Mr. Kouakou, while addressing participants at the kick-off meeting taking place from 7 – 8 February 2017 in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants are members of the project’s steering committee –all of whom are implementing partners. Even though there exists several continental and sub-regional agreements and policies in sub-Saharan Africa in which women’s rights are enshrined, slow progress with regard to implementation and realization of these rights have been noted. “The State of the African Woman Campaign seeks to convert policies on the protection of women’s rights into reality. The project firmly believes that norms and agenda-setting at policy level need to be accompanied by changes in social and religious norms. This campaign, which combines grassroots mobilization and political advocacy, enhances sustainability where changes in norms related to women’s rights at policy and societal levels lead to long-term systems changes, with direct impact on people’s lives. The campaign builds on partner’s experiences and ongoing advocacy programmes in the region,” he said. Mr. Kouakou expressed optimism about the project’s success, owing to the great implementation team involved. Also present in the kick-off meeting is Ms. Stephanie Truille-Baurens from the European Union, and the IPPF European Network Regional Director, Ms. Caroline Hickson, among others. Follow the State of the African Woman campaign via the hashtag #SoAW For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook and Twitter

Michelle Grace Phiri is a 19-year-old university student from Malawi. She is also an active member of the Youth Action Movement (YAM) in her country, and advocate against Child Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM). IPPF Africa Region, which prioritizes youth engagement and empowerment, facilitated the participation of Michelle and other YAM members to attend activities around the 28th African Union Summit, which included the 9th AU Gender Pre-Summit and a Forum of African Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FPA) meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The AU theme for this year is: Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth”. IPPF Africa Region works closely with various development partners, among them the African Union in the realization of the continent’s development goals, and achievement of ‘The Africa we Want’. We caught up with Michelle on her views on youth and Africa's development. “In my experience as a young person, many times we are told that we are the leaders of tomorrow. But I always ask myself this question: When does tomorrow start? Africa’s youth face a myriad of challenges in their daily living, and I believe that the best people to highlight these problems, explore feasible solutions and implement worthwhile recommendations are the youth themselves, in collaboration with other development partners. But they must be centrally involved in this process, and not just wait for decisions to be made for them. The time is now, I believe. Let us not wait for tomorrow to become leaders so that we can start solving Africa’s problems then. As a young person, whatever capacity you find yourself in today, begin seeking solutions to the challenges that you and other African youth face. You have the power in you to bring about that change. But how can young people do so, you ask? Mobile Technology Young people can form groups to seek solutions to their problems. Many of those in urban and peri-urban areas have access to mobile technology, so they can use them to communicate with each other in a group –such as on Facebook or WhatsApp, where they can highlight their issues, engage in debates and constructive arguments, suggest solutions to these problems, and even strategize on how their plight can reach policy makers and other Legislators. In rural areas, groups are also just as effective, where they can form clubs, self-help groups, and other productive forums where they can similarly discuss their problems and propose solutions. In whichever groups they are, they can invite those in authority or those responsible for addressing the issue to answer their questions or explain why things are not going as they should. They should feel confident enough to raise questions about their access to basic rights such as health services, education, clean water, hygiene and sanitation.  Traditional Media To advance their cause, young people should also take advantage of the traditional media; radio, newspapers and television to call for action and hold their government and leaders to account on their commitments. We recognize the value of journalists in highlighting social issues, spotlighting corruption and calling for accountability by leaders. The media is also instrumental in showcasing success stories and educating the community on innovative strategies that could realize development in the society. Young people can participate in talk shows on radio or TV, and send in their opinion letters to editors, as a means of participating in development conversations and seeking solutions to their problems. They should not just sit back and wait for change to come to them. They should be part of the solutions.   Those are my thoughts. What are your thoughts on youth and Africa's development?" If you are a young person who is passionate about Africa's development, join the Youth Action Movement in your country today. Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region. For more updates on our work, follow us on Facebook and Twitter

By Maryanne W. Waweru Wednesday 25 January 2017, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia A young politician from the East African country of Uganda has challenged African youth to rise up from their slumber and claim their rightful spaces if they are to improve their livelihoods, and if the continent is to achieve gains in development. “The reality is that many African young people today face a myriad of challenges, such as high rates of poverty and employment, drug abuse, alcoholism, reckless sex and unplanned pregnancies among others. Many youth are merely surviving, and sleepwalking through life. This is a great setback towards our achievement of ‘the Africa we Want’. Young people, don’t be comfortable with the uncomfortable situations you find yourselves in. Take charge of your own and realize that the continent depends on your positive input,” said Emmy Otim, during a panel discussion at the 9th African Union gender pre-summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in a session titled: "Investing in Young People’s Political Engagement". The Africa Union theme for 2017 is “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth.” Representing Young Politicians in Africa, Mr. Otim further urged youth to deliberately engage in democratic processes and elect leaders who can help curate change and spur development in their countries. “Young people must take time to understand the electoral process and their civic responsibility of choosing a leader who understands the need for investing in the resource that is young people. They should use their right to vote, and vote in leaders who are progress oriented,” said Otim, while further urging them to desist from being used negatively by politicians. “Unfortunately, many African politicians take advantage of young people and use them to among others, intimidate their opponents and perpetrate acts of violence against them. In fact, it could be said that such politicians are the ones reaping from the demographic dividend as they are unfairly capitalizing on the resources that is youth. Others who may be taking advantage of young people and their vulnerable or unemployment status are child traffickers, rebel militia groups and the rising radical groups,” he said.   Mr. Otim encouraged young people to use their voices and effectively utilize the spaces they find themselves in to push their own development agenda. He particularly encouraged them to take advantage of technology, which is now more available to them than in previous years. “Today’s African youth are the most educated, exposed, creative and dynamic. They have access to technology, which, if used appropriately, can help them improve their standards of living and help them live quality lives. The various social media platforms that many youth have access to nowadays should be used effectively, to benefit not only themselves and their immediate communities, but their countries and the continent at large,” he said. IPPF Africa Region works closely with young people through the Youth Action Movement (YAM), where it implements various projects in different countries that support the empowerment of young people, helping them realize their full potential. IPPFAR is committed to the goals of the African Union Commission theme for 2017: “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth”. Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region.

Women’s empowerment is key to ensuring their health and well-being. A partnership between public, private and civil society found a unique way to address health and gender inequalities in one of the most disadvantageous communities in the Northern regions of Ghana. This pilot project introduced solar lanterns, health and economic interventions to 20 villages. The project was effective because it brought together Japan’s ODA, private sector technology and IPPF’s community-based activities to challenge structural barriers and harmful gender norms. In doing so, we have done more than bring ‘light’ where there was once ‘darkness’. This intervention has transformed the lives of women, their families and their community.