Articles about Africa

Rehema remembers the fear more than the pain. At eight months pregnant, living in Busuma refugee site in Burundi, she had already made the journey once, walking for hours under the heat to reach a health facility in another zone. It wasn’t just far. It was exhausting, uncertain, and sometimes impossible. "I kept thinking… when the time comes, will I make it?” she said." Busuma had quickly grown into a vast settlement, now home to around 65,000 Congolese refugees fleeing conflict across the border. Among them were more than a thousand pregnant women like Rehema, navigating displacement, uncertainty, and limited access to care. For those living in Zone B, the nearest health facility was too far. Many delayed seeking care. Some gave birth at home. Others took risks they couldn’t afford. Then something changed. With support from WISH 2, a new health centre with maternity services opened right in Zone B. It wasn’t just a building. It meant that care was finally within reach. By the time Rehema went into labor, she didn’t have to walk for hours. She didn’t have to choose between safety and distance. She went to the new facility. The lights were simple. The space was modest. But the care was there. "They welcomed me with care and compassion,” she said. “With their support, I gave birth to my baby safely.” For Rehema, that moment changed everything. She wasn’t alone. Skilled health providers were there. The risks that come with giving birth without assistance were no longer hers to carry. When her baby cried for the first time, it was not just relief. It was safety, dignity, and a sense of being seen. Before she left, the staff handed her a small package. A baby kit. Washing powder. A simple gesture, but one that stayed with her. "It made me feel cared for,” she said. “I thank them, and I hope they do the same for other women.” In its first month alone, the facility supported 28 safe deliveries like Rehema’s. It also provided care for survivors of violence, treated infections, and helped dozens of women access family planning for the first time. But beyond the numbers, the shift is something you feel in the community. Women no longer wait in fear. Community volunteers move through the settlement, checking on families, guiding them, referring them. There is a system now, one that connects people to care when they need it most. For Rehema, it comes down to something simple. "I didn’t have to walk alone.” And in a place shaped by displacement and uncertainty, that made all the difference. What happened in Busuma was more than just opening a health facility. For the first time under WISH 2 in Burundi, maternity services were established and made fully operational within a humanitarian setting, bringing safe delivery care closer to women who need it most. It changed how care is accessed. Women no longer had to travel long distances or take risks during labor. Instead, they could reach skilled providers within their own community, in time, and with dignity. At the same time, this experience became a learning moment for the programme. It offered practical insight into what it takes to run maternity services in fragile contexts, from staffing and clinical organization to building referral systems that actually work when conditions are unpredictable. It also strengthened how WISH 2 operates. Closer coordination between health providers, community structures, and programme teams made it possible to respond quickly, adapt when challenges arose, and maintain continuity of care even in a complex humanitarian environment.  

Discover how IPPF Africa Region is helping shape policies and advance sexual and reproductive health and rights across the African continent. The IPPF ARO Advocacy Engagements Highlights at the African Union (January–May 2026), provides an overview of our key advocacy initiatives, milestones and achievements across African Union platforms during the first five months of 2026. The publication highlights how IPPF ARO and our Member Associations are working alongside governments, regional institutions, civil society and young people to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), promote gender equality and strengthen meaningful youth participation in continental decision-making processes. Whether you are an advocate, policymaker, partner, researcher, journalist or simply interested in the future of SRHR in Africa, this publication offers valuable insights into the partnerships, policy processes and collective action driving change across the region.

For more than three decades, a community daycare centre in La Tour Koenig, Mauritius, continues to be more than just a childcare facility. While providing affordable childcare services, it has, at the same time, enabled generations of women to join the workforce, earn an income and in turn improve the well-being of their families. The daycare center also continues to empower parents on issues around sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR). The MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center is a social enterprise initiative of the Mauritius Family Planning Welfare Association (MFPWA), an associate member of IPPF. By Maryanne W. WAWERU   On a bright mid-morning in April, Ms. Kiran Seetohul, 50, walks into the MFPWA daycare center in La Tour Koenig, a locality south of Port Louis, the capital city of Mauritius. Cradling her seven-month-old grandson, she is warmly welcomed by the center manager, Ms. Marilyn Dhookit. The daycare center provides fulltime care for children aged three months to three years, and also offers babysitting services for about 40 primary school children during school holidays. Kiran works nearby as a casual labourer and usually returns to pick her grandson up at 3pm at the end of her working day. The child’s parents, both aged 21 years, work long hours far from home and don’t have the flexibility to provide daily childcare themselves. Hiring a child minder is also beyond their financial means. This is where Kiran, the child’s grandmother, comes in. Her flexible work schedule enables her to step in and support the young family. Every morning, she drops her grandson at the daycare center before heading to work and returns for him later in the afternoon on her way home. The arrangement is a win for all of them. Kiran continues to earn an income, while her daughter and son-in-law also get to do the same without having to worry about their child’s care during the day. The baby also receives safe, reliable care throughout the day. At a monthly fee of 3,500 Mauritian Rupees ($76), the daycare center provides the family with a pocket-friendly, dependable childcare solution. Kiran has no hesitation about it. “I love this facility because it is clean and spacious. It is visually attractive for the babies and has lots of activities for them. The caregivers are friendly and the price is just right. It is a great place for my grandson,” she says.   All-rounded childcare center The MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center is a safe space for children where they learn, feed, play, and thrive as they grow. With the different stimulating activities provided for them such as colourful toys, music and outdoor play, it creates an all-rounded nurturing environment. Additionally, it supports their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development. “The caregivers feed the children nutritious meals, keep them hydrated, and ensure they are clean and comfortable. They change their diapers and give them a bath. They also keep a daily activity log for each child so that when you return to pick your child, you receive a proper briefing about how their day has been. I find this very professional and reassuring. Whenever I pick my grandson in the afternoon, I always find him happy, clean, and well-fed. That is why I love this place, and I can tell that my grandson loves it too,” says Kiran, a beaming smile on her face. The daycare center’s longstanding good reputation in the Le Tour Koenig locale played a key role in the family’s decision. Although Kiran had been aware of its services, recommendations from her son-in-law’s relatives strengthened her confidence in it. “Five of his cousins had previously brought their babies here, and they gave glowing reviews about the services offered. That made it easier to convince my daughter to return to work after maternity leave as I assured her that I would handle the daily dropping and picking of her son. They are a young family, and this daycare center is directly improving their financial status by enabling them to work without worry. Had it not been for this facility, my daughter would have had to quit her job to care for her baby,” says Kiran. For families like Kiran’s, the center provides a reliable support system that helps parents to stay in the workforce and earn an income as their babies receive quality care during the day.   MFPWA’s response to an emerging need Established 38 years ago, the MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center was founded at a time when women faced significant challenges in entering the workface, largely due to lack of safe and affordable childcare options. According to Ms. Vidya Charan, the MFPWA Executive Director, the facility was established to meet a pressing need in the community. “At that time, the country was engaged in intensive family planning campaigns that also stressed on women’s empowerment. As women began to space their children and plan their families, many aspired to join the workforce as a means to gaining financial independence. However, they had no one to leave their children at home with, and this presented a significant barrier to their ambitions. An intervention to address this gap was desperately needed,” she says. Recognizing this challenge, MFPWA began exploring ways to support working mothers. The idea of a daycare center was born. “We thought of creating a facility where mothers could leave their children while they worked. However, this required investments and resources which we unfortunately did not have. So we approached the government with a proposal,” she says. In response, the government, through the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, provided a building (rent-free) for this purpose. This success was largely attributed to MFPWA’s well established relationship with the government, which recognized the organization for its commitment to family issues, and to women’s and girl’s empowerment. “Soon, more women began taking up jobs in textile factories, the agricultural industry, in offices, and as healthcare workers. Finally, they had a safe and reliable place to leave their children. They no longer had to worry about their children’s care as they earned an income,” says the Executive Director, who adds that the facility operates from 8am – 5pm on weekdays, and half-day on Saturdays. Ms. Marilyn Dookhit, who has worked at the center for 31 years says she has witnessed, firsthand, how access to reliable childcare has transformed many families in the area. “With the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their children are in a safe place as they work, many women’s productivity at work has improved as they are better able to focus on their tasks. They tell us this as they drop and pick their children up. Also, judging by the number of referrals and repeat clients we get, it is a sure testament of the quality services we offer. These women have been able to educate their children and provide for their families. Their financial status has improved. We see these families in the community, and we can tell that one of the main reasons for their improved family well-being is because the women worked comfortably as their children were cared for at our facility,” she says.   A resource for SRHR information and services In addition to enabling women to participate in the workforce, the MFPWA La Tour Koenig daycare center serves as an important entry point for SRHR empowerment. “We organize regular parent’s day sessions where we bring parents together to discuss a variety of issues around child development. During these forums, we provide SRHR information and services including family planning, teen pregnancies, HIV counselling and testing, as well as specialized services such as pap smears and laboratory services. We also offer referrals to our medical facilities and partners institutions, including government hospitals,” says Ms. Charan, the MFPWA Executive Director.   Community support for sustainability As a social enterprise, the MFPWA daycare center balances community service with financial sustainability, a model that ensures it continues to meet local needs while still generating income to sustain its operations. “While the government provided the building, the community members helped equip it with essential items such as cots, tables, chairs, curtains and appliances like the refrigerator. We also regularly receive donations of toys, diapers and food for the children,” she says. For quality control, the daycare center operates under strict government regulations which ensures it maintains high-quality standard of care. “The Ministry conducts regular monitoring and inspection checks at the facility to ensure compliance. We adhere to all government requirements, which ensures that this is a safe environment for the children,” Ms. Charan explains. Further, daycare staff regularly undergo trainings in key areas such as emergency preparedness, first aid and child development, which help in ensuring that the children are cared for by a well-trained team. Indeed, for families in Le Tour Koenig, the MFPWA daycare center is more than just a building. It is a catalyst for women’s economic empowerment, a safe and nurturing space for their children, and a trusted resource center where parents can access information and services related to their sexual reproductive health and by one of the leading healthcare organizations in the country.

IPPF’s Member Association in Ghana -the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) facilitates an initiative dubbed ‘sista’s clubs’, which are participatory forums for adolescent girls and young women undertaken at the community level, where they discuss sexual and reproductive health (SRH) matters. The clubs create enabling environments for sexuality education through community-level advocacy. PPAG recently conducted training that strengthened the capacity of facilitators to effectively run the ‘sista’s clubs’ sessions. One of the facilitators, Zubaida Salifu, shares her experiences, noting the impact that the clubs continue to have in her community. Zubaida spoke to Maryanne W. WAWERU. My name is Zubaida Salifu, 23, a final-year university student undertaking a bachelor’s degree in Education studies. I am passionate about imparting knowledge to young people, hence my aspiration to become a teacher. I am also a trained peer educator with IPPF’s Member Association -PPAG and based in their Tamale branch in Northern Ghana. PPAG gives me the opportunity to engage in my foremost passion, that of educating young people on their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and I am particularly passionate about empowering girls and young women. Addressing teen pregnancies in the community In my Katariga community located in Sagnarigu District, Tamale, teenage pregnancies have for decades been a worrying concern. When I was growing up, many of my friends dropped out of school after becoming pregnant. I witnessed, first-hand, the negative consequences of early motherhood, such as stalled education pursuits and ambition regression by young mothers. This sparked my desire to be a young changemaker. Being a part of PPAG’s volunteer youth group has contributed to my realization of this goal. Today, I am one of the trusted female role models in Katariga, thanks to my education achievements and strong affiliation with PPAG. Some of my responsibilities as a PPAG volunteer include convening safe discussion spaces for young girls in Katariga, through a forum dubbed ‘sista’s club’. Every Saturday from 9 – 11 am, I host a group of about 20 girls aged between 13 – 19 years. With my parents’ blessings, we meet within our home compound. The ‘sista’s club’ sessions are held to educate adolescent girls and young women about SRHR. We discuss issues such as boy-girl relationships, menstrual hygiene, teenage pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and healthy relationships with parents. From the regular capacity building sessions and refresher trainings I receive from PPAG, I capably lead the sessions. When parents become part of the movement There have been noteworthy achievements from the ‘sista’s club’ forum I lead. In what initially began as an empowerment platform for teenage girls, it now extends to parents too. The genesis of this was a mother who, one day, out of curiosity, decided to follow her 17-year-old daughter to a ‘sista’s club’ meeting. She silently sat through the discussions and, happy with the proceedings, went round the neighbourhood encouraging her friends – fellow mothers, to send their daughters to ‘Zubaida’s meetings’ on Saturday mornings. Impressed, she told them that the discussions were very helpful to her daughter. This drew support from more parents, who then began encouraging their daughters to attend our meetings. Previously, parents would be apprehensive about their adolescent children receiving sexuality education, fearing that the discussions would induct them into early sexual activity. I’m happy to note that the ‘sista’s club’ sessions have allayed these fears by increasing their understanding of the importance of age-appropriate sexuality education. Open conversations between adolescent girls and parents The feedback I receive from the girls is very encouraging. They tell me that they now share the lessons they learn at the ‘sista’s club’ forum with their parents – something that did not happen before. Considering that many parents find it extremely difficult to discuss SRH matters with their children, the feedback I receive from both parents and their children is that our sessions are helping to open conversations between them. Today, when I walk around the village, parents stop me and invite me to their homes to counsel their daughters about their SRHR needs as well as prioritizing their education at this pivotal stage in their lives. Positive impact on girl’s education I feel happy because, through the educational activities we have been carrying out in the community over the last two years, together with the collective effort of parents, more girls have remained in school. Cases of girls dropping out because of teen pregnancies are not as common anymore, because they are now better empowered with information on how to avoid early pregnancies. I also know of several teen mothers who, with the encouragement of their parents through the discussions we have had, have returned to school. It’s good to see more parents supporting sexuality education activities in the community nowadays – something that was rare before. With reduced teen pregnancies and more young mothers returning to school, I believe significant change is taking place in Katariga. We are building a community of empowered, educated women and this will in turn result in positive outcomes for everyone, for as they say: ‘when you educate a woman, you educate an entire community’. From the positive impact I have so far observed of the ‘sista’s club’ sessions, I believe other IPPF MAs and other grassroots organizations can successfully replicate this model within their own communities. The forums have demonstrated that empowering girls with information about their sexual and reproductive health not only benefits the girls themselves, but also empowers parents and in turn, the wider community.

As delegates from 34 African countries gathered for the 9th RHNK Pan-African Adolescent and Youth Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (AYSRHR) Scientific Conference in Mombasa, Kenya, which took place from 2-5 June 2026, one of the key conversations focused on expanding access to quality abortion care across Africa. The conference was organized by Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK), which is IPPF’s affiliate in the country. Among the initiators of this conversation was Mr. Kader Avonnon, who leads the Comprehensive Abortion Care in West Africa (SCAAO) programme at IPPF Africa Regional Office. Jointly funded by The Hewlett Foundation and the Foundation for a Just Society International, SCAAO aims to expand access to person-centered abortion care for women and girls in Francophone west and central Africa. During the conference, Mr. Avonnon moderated a panel discussion featuring IPPF MAs implementing the programme, highlighting some of its successes so far. In this interview with Maryanne W. WAWERU, he reflects on some of the key messages from the session. The SCAAO programme is being implemented by IPPF MAs in Niger, Togo, Burkina Faso and Cameroon. In the panel discussion that you moderated, what learnings did you hope the participants would take away? While reaffirming the importance of recognizing abortion as essential healthcare, the session focused on the programme’s approaches that have proven effective in advancing laws, policies and access to abortion services in some of Africa’s most challenging contexts. Many participants from the different countries represented at the conference highlighted the challenges and barriers they face in their efforts to expand access to abortion care within complex and heavily restrictive legal and social environments. Therefore, drawing on the experiences of the SCAAO programme, we sought to demonstrate that success is indeed possible. This we did by showcasing the practical tools, innovative approaches and evidence-based strategies that continue to successfully deliver results in the countries we work in. What do you consider the SCAAO programme's most significant achievement so far, and why? The most significant achievement of the SCAAO program has been the creation of a growing space for honest, constructive dialogue on abortion care across Francophone west and central Africa. These dialogues with key stakeholders including governments, civil society actors, legislators, religious leaders, women’s rights defenders, and healthcare providers have translated into stronger political commitment in countries like Cameroon, Niger, and Togo. Even in challenging contexts such as Niger, legal reforms have expanded access to abortion care in cases of rape and incest. The results have been tangible, an example being on the service delivery level, where our MAs in Cameroon and Togo have reported more women accessing person-centered services in their facilities. These changes demonstrate that progress is indeed possible, even in restrictive environments. One of SCAAO’s core approaches has been fostering collaboration between stakeholders from different sectors. How has this multi-sectoral approach contributed to the programme’s success? One of the most meaningful strategies of SCAAO has been its ability to build bridges between governments, civil society, local political and religious leaders, healthcare providers and other key stakeholders. This collaborative approach has helped create an enabling environment for advocacy on quality, person-centered abortion care. We have seen this translate into practical results in Togo and Cameroon, where Ministries of Health, Justice, and Members of Parliament are working together on a roadmap to improve abortion laws. In Niger, the Ministry of Health has taken ownership of several SCAAO initiatives, including funding and implementing activities such as training healthcare providers, which is a powerful sign of commitment, and which also speaks to sustainability. At the national levels, SCAAO has supported the establishment of networks and task forces aimed at sustaining momentum, strengthening engagement with decision makers and promoting accountability. We have also witnessed inspiring collaboration around advocacy efforts, such as the International Safe Abortion Day. The RHNK Conference brought together over one thousand SRHR advocates, healthcare workers, researchers, policymakers, and youth leaders from across Africa. How important are forums like this in advancing access to abortion care and reproductive justice on the continent? Platforms like the RHNK conference remind us that none of us are working alone, and that we are part of a broader movement working towards a common goal. For many healthcare workers, the challenges can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially those working in restrictive environments. Conferences like this not only offer a good learning and exchange forum, but they also offer a sense of community and solidarity. The RHNK conference was not just about sharing strategies, but about listening to each other, learning from real experiences, and finding strength in shared commitment. Conferences like these provide us with the opportunity to refine our approaches, build genuine partnerships, and expand our networks. Looking ahead, what are the priorities for Phase 2 of SCAAO (2025-2028), and how will the programme build on the gains made so far? One of the key priorities in Phase 2 of SCAAO is to keep advocating for legal and policy reforms. We are also keen on solidifying our partnerships with governments, civil society organizations, legislators, religious leaders, healthcare providers and other key stakeholders, to ensure that the results are locally driven and sustainable. While building stronger networks, we also aim to ensure we safeguard the gains already achieved so far. Additionally, we will remain vigilant against efforts to roll back on abortion rights. We remain committed to ensuring that women and girls in Africa have expanded access to quality, person-centered abortion care. What gives me hope is the energy we witnessed at the conference, especially the strength and commitment of young people. Their voices, combined with the networks we are building, will help us face the challenges ahead and turn our goals into reality.   

JOINT STATEMENT: At the Conclusion of the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values As the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values concludes in Accra, Ghana, we join voices with activists, feminists, human rights defenders, community organisers, and ordinary people across the continent who are increasingly concerned about the growing weaponisation of ‘family values’, African culture’ and ‘sovereignty’ as political tools to justify exclusion, discrimination and the erosion of rights for Africans. Across the continent, we are witnessing increasingly coordinated efforts to roll back sexual and reproductive rights for women and girls in all their diversities, undercut civil and political rights for all, restrict civic spaces, weaken human rights protections, and to portray LGBTQI+ people as threats to society rather than as members of our communities, our families and our nations. These crossborder efforts are even embedded in parliamentary networks, and are being advanced through proposed legal and policy frameworks that seek to reshape African human rights law and institutions, and how rights, family, citizenship and belonging are understood on the continent, and the obligations African States have to respect, protect, and fulfill human rights.  Many of the conversations taking place under the banner of protecting African families begin from a series of false premises: that there is only one kind of African family worth protecting, only one way of belonging within African society, and that there is only one kind of African society. This does not reflect the realities of our communities, as African families have always been diverse, dynamic and shaped by care, responsibility and interdependence, and as African countries are culturally and spiritually diverse. Our families have always included extended families, grandparent-led households, single-parent households, non-heterosexual family dynamics, kinship networks, adoptive families and many other systems  of care and support that have sustained our communities for generations. This attempt to narrow legal and political definition and recognition to a single vision of family does not strengthen African families, but rather weakens them by creating a targeted tool to exclude many of the people who already form part of them. WHAT WE OBSERVED DURING THE CONFERENCE The most significant outcome of this conference is the adoption of the proposed African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values. Far from being a symbolic declaration, the Charter is being advanced as a continent-wide framework intended to influence national legislation, public policy, education, health governance and regional human rights institutions. The conference repeatedly presents the family as the primary unit of society and as the basis upon which rights should be understood. However, both African and international human rights frameworks recognise that while families deserve protection, rights belong to individuals. The purpose of human rights law is not simply to protect institutions, including families, but to ensure that every person within those institutions enjoys dignity, equality and freedom. When the rights of women, children, LGBTQI+ persons or other family members are subordinated to an abstract notion of family unity, the result is not stronger families but greater opportunities for exclusion, coercion and abuse.  The discussions that took place during the conference also reinforce concerns already expressed by civil society organisations, feminist movements, media, public health advocates, economic justice advocates, human rights defenders and human rights institutions across Africa. While the conference organisers frame their efforts as a defence of African values and sovereignty, many of the proposals being advanced would have serious implications for human rights, public health, constitutional and democratic governance, academic freedom, civic participation, and the safety of already marginalised communities. We are particularly concerned by attempts to position sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, comprehensive sexuality education and LGBTQI+ inclusion as foreign concepts imposed on Africa. Such claims ignore the long histories of African struggles for dignity, bodily autonomy, freedom, and justice. They also erase the work of countless African activists, human rights defenders, scholars, health professionals, community leaders and social movements that have advanced these conversations from within our own societies. We reject the suggestion that the rights and well-being of women, girls, LGBTQI+ people, and other marginalised communities are incompatible with African values. We equally reject the notion that the fundamental human rights of only majority groups should be protected by the State. Human rights claims that challenge dominant social norms or political interests are important and legitimate. The strength of any society should be measured by how well it protects those who are most vulnerable to marginalisation, scapegoating, exclusion, violence, and discrimination, not by how effectively it silences them. It is particularly important to interrogate claims that the conference’s agenda represents an authentic defence of African sovereignty. The networks that have organised, supported and promoted successive family values conferences across Africa are themselves deeply transnational. For years, well-resourced organisations, advocacy groups and political actors based outside the continent have invested in funding convenings and advancing coordinated campaigns aimed at influencing African laws and policies on gender, sexuality, education and reproductive rights. Any serious conversation about foreign influence must therefore account for all sources of influence, including those operating through the family values movement itself.  A Critical Moment for Ghana This conference takes place at a critical juncture for Ghana, when the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill has been passed by Parliament and now awaits presidential assent. This Bill raises serious constitutional, human rights, public health and democratic concerns. Its provisions extend beyond the criminalisation of same-sex relations and into areas of identity, expression, association, advocacy and support. If enacted, it would further legitimise discrimination, deepen fear and stigma, shrink civic space and place already vulnerable communities at increased risk of violence and exclusion.  At a time when Ghanaians are confronting pressing economic and social challenges, this legislation offers neither meaningful solutions nor tangible benefits. It will not create jobs, improve healthcare, strengthen education systems, or reduce inequality. Instead, it risks diverting public attention away from urgent national priorities while creating new avenues for surveillance, harassment, and social division. This is why we strongly oppose the foundations of both the African Charter on Family, Sovereignty and Values, and the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill. We call on: President John Dramani Mahama not to assent to the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, as the decision before him is not merely a political one but a constitutional, moral and historic responsibility whose consequences will extend far beyond the present moment and the communities directly targeted by the legislation. By rejecting the Bill, Ghana can reaffirm its longstanding commitment to democratic governance, constitutionalism and fundamental freedoms, and demonstrate principled leadership at a time when rights and democratic institutions are facing increasing pressure across the world.  African States to reject all efforts to instrumentalise culture, religion, family, and sovereignty as justifications for discrimination and exclusion. The African Union and regional human rights institutions to protect the integrity of Africa's human rights framework and institutions and resist attempts to weaken longstanding protections for equality, dignity and freedom. Diplomatic missions, development partners and international organisations to remain engaged and principled in their support for human rights, civic freedoms and democratic governance across the continent. Civil society actors, media practitioners, academics, traditional leaders, and faith leaders, to continue creating space for open and honest conversations about family, belonging and social justice that reflect the realities of African communities rather than narrow political agendas. Finally, we call on all those committed to a more just and inclusive Africa to continue building the alliances, movements and solidarities necessary to resist attempts to divide our communities and diminish our shared humanity. The future of Africa cannot be built through exclusion. It must be built through dignity, justice, freedom, care and a recognition that our societies are strongest when every person is able to belong.   Signatories CHEVS IPPF Africa Region Outright International galck+ African LBTIQ Caucus

PrEP is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent HIV, yet many people still have questions about what it is, who it is for, and how it fits into their lives. Can you take PrEP if you are on gender-affirming hormone therapy? Does it have side effects? And why do so many transgender and gender-diverse people still face barriers to accessing it? We consulted the IPPF International Medical Advisory Panel to answer some of the most common questions we have received from the community about PrEP, from how it works and who can benefit from it, to the realities of navigating HIV prevention, healthcare systems, and gender-affirming care. Whether you're considering PrEP yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply curious, here's what you need to know. What is PrEP?  PrEP refers to the use of antiretroviral medication by people not infected with HIV to reduce their risk of acquiring HIV (1). PrEP is used during periods when individuals believe they are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. There are different delivery methods and regimens, with new methods also in development. Currently available options include an oral pill, a vaginal ring, and long-acting injectables.  Who should use PrEP?  PrEP is appropriate for anyone who perceives themselves to be vulnerable to HIV and wishes to reduce their risk of HIV infection through use of medications (1).  Are there side effects to PrEP?  Like all medications, PrEP may be associated with side effects in some people. The most common side effects are temporary, and can include nausea, bloating, diarrhoea, headache, feeling dizzy or weak, and trouble sleeping. Side effects from injections can include bruising, pain or small nodules at the injection site. Serious side effects are rare.  Does PrEP interfere with gender-affirming hormone therapy?  No. PrEP does not lower hormone levels in transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people (TGD) on gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) (2). PrEP has been shown to be effective and safe in TGD people and should be provided to high-risk individuals regardless of gender affirming hormone use. There are no measurable differences in hormone levels in blood between PrEP users and non-users who are on GAHT (3). However, blood concentrations of PrEP drugs in transgender women were lower than expected, although at levels unlikely to interfere with their antiviral effect to prevent HIV acquisition (4).  Are there sexual side effects to PrEP or gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender women?  PrEP is a medication that reduces the ability of the HIV virus to infect human immune cells; it does not impact the sexual functioning of human sex organs. GAHT for transgender women, however, decreases penile erection function, libido and ejaculatory volume. Discussion of these effects should be an integral part of the informed consent process and shared decision-making at the time of initiating GAHT. If these particular effects are unwanted, there are various strategies that can be used for those who wish to fully maintain penile sexual function, including the use of PDE5 (phosphodiesterase type 5) inhibitors (e.g., sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) to facilitate erections, masturbation/sexual activity to maintain tissue perfusion, lowering antiandrogen doses when feminising goals are met and targeting testosterone levels slightly higher than cisfemale range (either through lower GAHT doses or addition of low-dose add-back testosterone therapy) (5).  What are the barriers to using PrEP?  Access to healthcare is critical for successful PrEP implementation. Although higher-income regions have had more successful implementation and awareness raising campaigns to date, many low-middle income countries are accelerating access. While PrEP is an important part of HIV preventive care services, studies show transgender women use less preventive care due to multiple factors, including limited access to healthcare, lack of insurance coverage for PrEP and gender-affirming care and medications, and fear of discrimination and stigma by healthcare providers (6).  References  IMAP statement on biomedical HIV prevention. IPPF, 2023 IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention | IPPF, accessed March 2026.  Senneker T. Drug-Drug Interactions Between Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy and Antiretrovirals for Treatment/ Prevention of HIV. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2024;90:2366–2382.  Grant RM, Pellegrini M, Defechereux PA, Anderson PL, Yu M, Glidden DV, O’Neal J, Yager J, Bhasin S, Sevelius J, Deutsch MB. Sex Hormone Therapy and Tenofovir Diphosphate Concentration in Dried Blood Spots: Primary Results of the Interactions Between Antiretrovirals And Transgender Hormones Study. Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Oct 5;73(7):e2117-e2123. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1160. PMID: 32766890; PMCID: PMC8492111.  Hiransuthikul A, Janamnuaysook R, Himmad K, et al. Drug drug interactions between feminizing hormone therapy and preexposure prophylaxis among transgender women: the iFACT study. J Int AIDS Soc 2019; 22(7): e25338. DOI: 10. 1002/jia2.25338.  Sehgal I. Review of adult gender transition medications: mechanisms, efficacy measures, and pharmacogenomic considerations. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jul 4;14:1184024. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1184024.  Teng F, Sha Y, Fletcher LM, Welsch M, Burns P, Tang W. Barriers to uptake of PrEP across the continuum among transgender women: A global scoping review. Int J STD AIDS. 2023 Apr;34(5):299-314. doi: 10.1177/09564624231152781. Epub 2023 Feb 15. PMID: 36793197.

2 June 2026: The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPF ARO) vehemently denounces the passage of the Ghanaian Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 (anti-LGBTQ Bill). The Bill threatens human rights, the provision of health services, and the very cohesion of society. The Bill proposes prison sentences of up to three years for identifying as LGBTQ, five to ten years for so-called “promotion”, bans LGBTQ organisations, and criminalizes the use of media and social media to express support of LGBTQ existence.   This is not a moral safeguard; it is the criminalization of identity and solidarity. The Bill, if assented to by President Mahama, will imprison people for being visible, for organizing, or for expressing solidarity. It will fracture families and communities, forcing parents, siblings, health workers, teachers, and others into impossible positions between love and the law.   More tangibly, the Bill represents a significant expansion of state control over access to healthcare, it will undermine public health responses, particularly HIV prevention and treatment services. It would also undermine the flagship Free Primary Health Care Programme launched by the President earlier this year. Civil society interventions would be restricted by criminalising lifesaving support, encourage surveillance, denunciation, and fear within communities, and deepen stigma and violence against sexual and gender minorities.   Beyond the immediate harm, the Bill sets a precedent that Parliament can criminalize identity itself. Once that principle is established, rights become conditional.  Across Africa, we are witnessing a rising pattern of authoritarianism and moral panic, where the bodies and lives of LGBTQ, women, and other vulnerable persons are weaponized as political currently. Following a narrative driven by anti-rights actors, criminalization is being framed as decolonization, and repression as cultural sovereignty. By allowing foreign actors to drive our human rights principles, African states are harming the most marginalized and vulnerable of their citizens.   IPPF Africa region strongly urges President John Dramani Mahama to not assent to this Bill. We respectfully call on President Mahama to reject this flagrant abuse of human rights, and to protect the rights of all Ghanaians, while focusing on the structural and institutional issues that can actually improve quality of life for all.   IPPF Africa Regional Office continues to stand in solidarity with the entire LGBTQ+ community, human rights defenders, healthcare providers, and civil society organisations who continue to courageously work under increasingly hostile and dangerous conditions in Ghana, the African continent, and beyond.   END  For further information or to request an interview, please contact:  Mahmoud GARGA, Lead Strategic Communication, Voice and Media, IPPF Africa Regional Office – email: [email protected] / Tel: +254 704 626 920   About International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)  The International Planned Parenthood Federation is a global healthcare provider and advocacy organization working in over 140 countries to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. It delivers essential services, including contraception and safe abortion care, and advocates for access to accurate information and bodily autonomy worldwide. 

2 June 2026: The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPF ARO) vehemently denounces the passage of the Ghanaian Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill 2025 (anti-LGBTQ Bill). The Bill threatens human rights, the provision of health services, and the very cohesion of society. The Bill proposes prison sentences of up to three years for identifying as LGBTQ, five to ten years for so-called “promotion”, bans LGBTQ organisations, and criminalizes the use of media and social media to express support of LGBTQ existence.   This is not a moral safeguard; it is the criminalization of identity and solidarity. The Bill, if assented to by President Mahama, will imprison people for being visible, for organizing, or for expressing solidarity. It will fracture families and communities, forcing parents, siblings, health workers, teachers, and others into impossible positions between love and the law.   More tangibly, the Bill represents a significant expansion of state control over access to healthcare, it will undermine public health responses, particularly HIV prevention and treatment services. It would also undermine the flagship Free Primary Health Care Programme launched by the President earlier this year. Civil society interventions would be restricted by criminalising lifesaving support, encourage surveillance, denunciation, and fear within communities, and deepen stigma and violence against sexual and gender minorities.   Beyond the immediate harm, the Bill sets a precedent that Parliament can criminalize identity itself. Once that principle is established, rights become conditional.  Across Africa, we are witnessing a rising pattern of authoritarianism and moral panic, where the bodies and lives of LGBTQ, women, and other vulnerable persons are weaponized as political currently. Following a narrative driven by anti-rights actors, criminalization is being framed as decolonization, and repression as cultural sovereignty. By allowing foreign actors to drive our human rights principles, African states are harming the most marginalized and vulnerable of their citizens.   IPPF Africa region strongly urges President John Dramani Mahama to not assent to this Bill. We respectfully call on President Mahama to reject this flagrant abuse of human rights, and to protect the rights of all Ghanaians, while focusing on the structural and institutional issues that can actually improve quality of life for all.   IPPF Africa Regional Office continues to stand in solidarity with the entire LGBTQ+ community, human rights defenders, healthcare providers, and civil society organisations who continue to courageously work under increasingly hostile and dangerous conditions in Ghana, the African continent, and beyond.   END  For further information or to request an interview, please contact:  Mahmoud GARGA, Lead Strategic Communication, Voice and Media, IPPF Africa Regional Office – email: [email protected] / Tel: +254 704 626 920   About International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)  The International Planned Parenthood Federation is a global healthcare provider and advocacy organization working in over 140 countries to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights. It delivers essential services, including contraception and safe abortion care, and advocates for access to accurate information and bodily autonomy worldwide. 

‘Cross-movement solidarity’ is the most likely answer you would get if you asked a young person in development spaces on what needs to be strengthened.  Working across various movements for the greater good. I continue to believe, and will keep repeating, that at every intersection, there is liberation. We have inherited an emboldened mandate to conceptualize and implement cross-movement work on the shoulders of those who came before us. There is now a growing desire to move away from isolative and siloed movements toward one that recognizes that human rights are fundamentally intersecting, and so our thinking around abolition, repeal, protection, and collective care must also be intersecting.  But let’s be clear; sometimes organizing pushes people toward impossible compromises. Choosing between food and protest. Between “reasonable accommodations” and access to parliament. Between financial sustainability and impact. No one should ever have to choose between an empty stomach and meaningful impact, yet movements across the region and globally, especially those led by marginalized communities, are consciously or subconsciously forced into these decisions. And slowly, this reality weaves itself into organizational culture itself, the constant pitting against one another, agenda-driven storytelling, scarcity politics, and forgetting who we are beyond survival. Our bedrock begins to rot in belongingness itself, in the loss of communities and third spaces that are not commercialized or monetized.  When groups that have historically been marginalized are competing against one another over limited resources, coalitions become difficult to sustain. Economics is always at play. Money is political.  These tensions are not imagined. In March 2026, activists and organisations across SRHR, LGBTQIA+, feminist, PHIV, sex workers, and community-led movements gathered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, for the Cross-Sector Convening on Strengthening Gender and Rights Movements in Africa: From Inception to Action, co-organized by the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region, Pan Africa ILGA, and ILGA World  Beyond strategy and political analysis, the convening was also a testament to cross-movement unity and solidarity. Organizers from movements that are often separated by funding streams, mandates, language, geography, and political pressures found themselves in shared conversation, reflecting not only on threats, but on care, survival, belonging, and what collective liberation could still look like in practice. In many ways, the convening was not only about responding to anti-rights actors, but also about reconnecting with one another beyond crisis. Across movements, similar realities emerged: fragmentation, weak coordination, shrinking civic space, burnout, funding competition, and increasing pressure toward self-censorship. Participants spoke not only about visible anti-rights attacks, but also about the quieter normalization of anti-rights thinking within institutions meant to protect rights, through health systems, funding structures, media ecosystems, religious narratives, and everyday bureaucratic decisions. Others reflected on how solidarity itself becomes strained when movements are forced to compete for limited resources, visibility, and survival.  Participants reflected on how anti-rights actors have built strong networks across religious institutions, political actors, media ecosystems, and foreign funding streams. While progressive movements are often pushed into reactive modes of organizing, anti-rights actors have invested in infrastructure, long-term narrative building, and sustained political coordination. They understand the importance of structure. This is the uncomfortable truth many of us are now being forced to confront: progressive movements need to catch up.  Despite the increasingly hostile climate, movements across Africa are resisting. Coalition-building, rapid response mechanisms, strategic litigation, feminist organizing, queer organizing, mutual aid networks, and community-led approaches continue to hold the line across the region. But too often this work happens in challenging systems rather than through supported ecosystems of care and sustainability. Solidarity without material conditions eventually becomes performance.  Participants repeatedly returned to the need for something more durable than symbolic alignment: shared infrastructure, coordinated rapid-response systems, political trust, safer organizing conditions, stronger communication across movements, and collective accountability capable of surviving beyond convenings themselves. Because what does solidarity mean when movements are underfunded, burned out, criminalized, digitally surveilled, and competing against one another for survival? What does collaboration look like when language barriers, regional divides, unequal funding access, and institutional power imbalances remain unresolved?  Perhaps the shift we need is not simply toward “cross-movement work” as language, but toward structured movements. Movements capable of resourcing one another, sharing knowledge, building collective safety, coordinating politically, and imagining beyond emergency response. Movements that understand care, sustainability, accessibility, and culture-building as political strategy rather than secondary concerns.  And perhaps this was the deeper offering of Abidjan itself: not merely a convening, but an attempt to collectively imagine beyond the horizon for our movements. A reminder that our North Star cannot simply be survival, but the building of movements structured enough to carry us toward collective futures.