Articles about Africa

Nairobi, Kenya. Dr. Claudia Shilumani, the new IPPF Africa Regional Director has reaffirmed the commitment of the Federation in stewarding the sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) ecosystem in Kenya and the wider Africa Region. She made the remarks on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, during her visit to Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) -IPPF’s Member Association (MA) in Kenya. The visit marked her first in-person engagement with an IPPF MA since assuming office in March 2026. Dr. Shilumani used the opportunity to gain a broader practical understanding of how MAs operate on the ground, while engaging with the governance and leadership teams, staff, youth, and partners. The visit offered valuable insights into RHNK’s reputable work in advancing SRHR in Kenya, and the critical role that IPPF continues to play in supporting these efforts. At RHNK, she was received by the organization’s Executive Director Ms. Nelly Munyasia, Board Chair Mr. John Daluma, Board Member Ms. Evelyne Opondo, and Youth representative Mr. Simon Kiambati, among others. Ms. Mallah Tabot, the SRHR Lead at IPPF Africa Regional Office accompanied her for the visit. Describing the engagement as part of her desire to listen and learn from MAs, Dr. Shilumani commended RHNK’s leadership in addressing Kenya’s SRHR needs and their work with young people who are central to IPPF’s mission. “The future of our continent depends on youth. It is therefore important that we take deliberate action to ensure they thrive. Their sexual and reproductive health is fundamental to their well-being and productivity, and I am impressed by the work RHNK is doing to support Kenyan youth,” she said. Showcasing RHNK’s influence in SRHR Founded in 2010, RHNK has established itself as a leading SRHR champion in Kenya. With a network of over 500 service providers operating across the country, RHNK delivers comprehensive SRHR services including abortion care, and prioritizes advocacy for policy reforms, equitable access, and the realization of rights for all. During the visit, RHNK showcased its work with adolescent and youth programming, maternal health care, capacity building, research and innovation, as well as movement building. The Regional Director also learned about RHNK’s interventions that support teenage girls, young mothers, members of the LGBTQ community, rural populations and other vulnerable groups. Growth through IPPF’s partnership Since joining IPPF as an Associate Member in 2022, RHNK has witnessed significant growth. “We have benefitted immensely from IPPF’s support. This has been through commodity acquisition, capacity building, and expanded networks at local, regional and global levels. With IPPF’s financial and technical assistance, we have strengthened service delivery at our static health facilities, and scaled up outreach activities such as mobile clinics, peer education activities and humanitarian interventions during times of crisis. This has enabled us to reach more people, including those in hard-to-reach areas,” said Ms. Munyasia. The results have been remarkable. “In 2021, RHNK served about 215,000 people. By 2025, that number had grown to over 4.5million people, many of them youth. This growth is largely attributed to our partnership with IPPF, which remains our great pillar of support,” said Dr. Edison Omollo, RHNK’s Program Director. Site visit to REHNET medical center As part of the visit, the Regional Director toured RHNK’s youth-friendly facility -the REHNET medical center at Kwa Ndege, Embakasi, which is a peri-urban settlement area. There, she witnessed, first-hand, how clients, including young mothers, access reproductive health services in a safe and supportive environment. The REHNET medical center serves youth from the surrounding informal dwellings. It provides a safe and inclusive space for adolescent mothers, youth, LGBTQ individuals and sex workers, where they access quality SRHR delivered by trained health professionals. The center also supports them to have conversations that promote their mental well-being.   At the facility, Dr. Shilumani was introduced to the pharmacy, a social enterprise run by RHNK that helps young people access SRHR commodities at an affordable, subsidized fee. ‘Nena na Binti’ for digital health The Regional Director also explored RHNK’s digital outreach efforts through the Nena na Binti call center, a toll-free hotline providing confidential, non-judgemental SRHR information, counselling and referrals to girls, women, and even young men from across the country. According to Ms. Nancy Lynne Okutoyi, the call center coordinator, the platform receives an average of 40 calls daily, with numbers rising during school holidays. “During school breaks, young people reconnect, and many seek information on condoms, contraceptives, HIV testing and sexually transmitted infections. We also receive gender-based violence related calls,” she said. Because of RHNK’s network of accredited service providers across Kenya, callers from any part of the country are seamlessly referred to nearby health facilities for further care and support. “Indeed, RHNK is a leading example of youth-friendly, inclusive and transformative SRHR service delivery,” noted the Regional Director. Strengthening partnerships for greater impact   Dr. Shilumani’s visit concluded with a high-level engagement with RHNK’s key partners. Together, they discussed opportunities to strengthen collaboration and SRHR programming in Kenya and beyond.   The partners included Ms. Lucy Kimondo, the Ag. Director General of the National Council for Population and Development (NCPD), Prof. Joachim Osur -Vice Chancellor of Amref International University, Ms. Elsy Sainna from Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), Dr. Walter Obita -Country Director of MSI Reproductive Choices Kenya, and Dr. Musoba Kitui from Ipas Africa Alliance. Other partner organizations included Pathways Policy Institute, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) led by Evelyne Opondo, the Center for the Study of Adolescence (CSA), and Youth Voices and Action Initiative (YVAI). During the discussions, Dr. Shilumani acknowledged the increasingly challenging environment that many NGOs are currently operating in. “Our work is under threat from growing anti-rights movements, which risk reversing the gains we have made over the years. Shrinking donor funds and biased funding conditions are also threatening our work,” she noted. “However, we are not discouraged as these challenges have only strengthened our resolve. We will not relent in fighting for the sexual reproductive rights and freedoms for all people.” RHNK’s partners emphasized the need for more strategic engagement with political actors for enhanced success. “We must intentionally include political leaders in our SRHR conversations. While cultural and legal advocacy remains important, political actors are also key decision-makers. Strengthening our engagement with them will help us advance in our cause,” said Ms. Sainna from CRR. Dr. Shilumani ended with IPPF’s firm commitment to supporting RHNK and its partners in amplifying African leadership and centering African voices in global spaces. “We must build a strong Africa-led SRHR movement. This is the time to organize, strategize and strengthen our coalitions. We must leverage our collective voices that will counter harmful SRHR narratives and enable us to continue serving those who matter most to us -Africa’s girls, women, youth, men and communities.”

Ben Masinde, a registered nurse worked as a civil servant in government hospitals in Kenya’s western region for 34 years before retiring at the age of 60. Following his retirement in 2020, Masinde established the Benglad Health Center in Chwele, a busy commercial hub in Bungoma county, western Kenya. The center provides a wide array of services including reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services to those in and around Chwele. The facility has a maternity wing that operates on a 24-hour basis. In this article, Masinde speaks about one of the services offered at his clinic –abortion care, his affiliation with IPPF’s Associate Member in the country -Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK), and how his outlook on abortion care has changed since he established the facility five years ago. He narrated his abortion provider care journey to Maryanne W. WAWERU. “When I started the Benglad Health Center, I was only competent in providing post-abortion care (PAC) services, having been trained by the government back in 2004. At the government hospitals, we would receive a handful of PAC cases in a month, which my colleagues and I would handle capably. Things were no different at the Benglad Health Center, for I would receive several PAC clients in a month. Many times, the clients would present with extreme abdominal pain, while others would be brought in dizzy and weak, having lost a significant amount of blood from a botched abortion. Some would arrive with chills and high fevers, an indication of infection. Others would be brought in unconscious and in a half-dead state. The worrisome number of women and girls presenting with complications from unsafe abortions at my facility greatly worried me. The extent of the matter further dawned on me after realizing that I was the one to handle them – compared to when I worked in government hospitals with a team of well-trained colleagues. Now, I was their sole hope for survival. Religious convictions against abortion As I attended to the PAC cases at the facility, I noticed something else; an increase in the number of girls and women seeking comprehensive abortion care (CAC) services. They would tell me that they were pregnant and that they wanted to terminate their pregnancies safely, hence why they had come to a decent-looking health facility in the town center. They said they did not want to risk a botched abortion from quacks in the village as they had heard of cases of girls in their neighbourhood who had died from unsafe procedures. However, the requests for CAC agonized me because I neither had the competence nor the experience required to provide this service. I had a lot of uncertainty about it. In any case, my religious convictions prevented me from offering CAC services. Needless to say, it did not take long for me to begin analysing the matter from a practical point of view. The number of PAC clients were concerningly worrisome, with their dire situations being preventable in the first place. Seeing women at the near point of death led me to start reconsidering my rigid stance on CAC services. Clarifying my views on abortion Meanwhile, I continued to expand my networks as a private health care provider in Bungoma and the larger western Kenya region. During this time, a fellow clinician who understood my dilemma about abortion services introduced me to Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK). The clinician told me that RHNK would help me tackle some of the challenges I was facing as a clinician who offers sexual reproductive health (SRH) services, including those around abortion care. I welcomed the idea and joined RHNK in 2022 – two years after establishing the center. Upon becoming a member, I was first taken through a Values Clarification and Attitude Transformation (VCAT) training, which helped to demystify some of my views on abortion. The training broadened my understanding on why girls and women procure abortions, and the need for them to have access to affordable, high-quality safe procedures. As I absorbed the VCAT teachings, I knew that I had to reconcile my strong religious convictions about abortion with the need to help save the lives of women and young girls in Bungoma county and beyond. RHNK followed up the VCAT training with others on CAC and PAC. The PAC training refreshed and updated my already-existing knowledge on the practice, while the CAC training gave me the confidence to start the journey of saving the lives of young women and girls through the provision of quality abortion care strictly within the confines of Kenya’s laws and policies. Reduced PAC cases After the trainings, RHNK provided me with a CAC starter kit which enabled me to begin providing surgical and medical abortion services. Other clinicians who found themselves unable to provide abortion services at their facilities due to various reasons started referring clients to Benglad Health Center, as they knew I would capably attend to them. This, courtesy of the trainings I had received from RHNK. Gradually, girls and women started coming to my facility directly without going to quacks in the village or other unlicenced practitioners first. This is a practice that had previously contributed to the high PAC cases. I was now able to attend to all those seeking safe abortion services without turning them away because of my religious convictions or my lack of competence in the area. With time, I noticed a decrease in cases of those presenting with unsafe abortion complications and today, I hardly receive any PAC cases, something I can attribute to the increased awareness in the community about safe abortion services at the facility. Our charges are affordable and reflect the economic situation of my clientele. We charge between 2,000 – 4,000 Kenyan shillings ($15 - $31) for abortion services, though this can be reduced or waived depending on the clients’ circumstances. We do not turn away any client just because they cannot afford the charges. Connecting with other abortion care providers In February 2025, RHNK invited me to a provider share workshop (PSW). The workshop brought together several abortion care providers under the organization’s network. There, I met other service providers within the RHNK network. Drawn from different geographical locations across the country, I established that some of the practitioners had been providing CAC services for a short period of time such as myself, while others carried decades of experience. Collectively, we shared our experiences in abortion provision, and it was great to learn of our unique, yet similar experiences. There were lots of lessons to learn from each other. Additionally, at the provider share workshop, we formed a WhatsApp group which has been instrumental in continued peer-peer support amongst ourselves. Whenever we are faced with a dilemma or a challenging situation, we quickly reach out to colleagues in the forum and receive prompt assistance. Recently, I encountered a difficult abortion case, and I reached out to a service provider who I met during the provider share workshop who has been providing CAC services for decades, and he successfully guided me through the situation. No longer ‘alone’ The support from RHNK has been very helpful as I no longer feel ‘alone’ as an abortion care provider. Being a member of the network and the experiences we continue to share as abortion care providers have been very encouraging. I am proud to be associated with an entity that is committed to saving the lives of girls and women across the country through the provision of high-quality client-centered abortion services. Today, I can with confidence say that through the safe abortion services provided at Benglad Health Center, the lives of several girls and young women in Bungoma county have been saved. I remain committed to this cause, thanks to partners such as RHNK and IPPF.

Obstetricians and Gynaecologists working across East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) have reaffirmed their commitment to address the scale of unsafe abortions in the region. They made the commitment in Kenya during a learning and exchange forum jointly hosted by East, Central and Southern African College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ECSACOG) in partnership with the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) and Ipas Africa Alliance. Held from 5 - 7 February 2026, the meeting brought together a Community of Practice (CoP) including 10 obstetrician and gynaecologists’ member societies from Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Sudan. ECSACOG established the CoP in 2022 in response to the gap in abortion access in the sub region in order to leverage members’ clinical expertise and resources to address the scale of unsafe abortions in the ECSA region. The CoP convenes regularly, both in-person and virtually to share successes, challenges and best practices, while exploring opportunities to advance sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy in the region, including on comprehensive abortion care (CAC). They also analyse current global, regional and in-country influences affecting access to quality SRHR information and services. Speaking at the meeting, Ms. Lillian Nkonge, Deputy Director of the IPPF WISH2 Project, emphasized on the importance of the forum. “The meeting was a good opportunity for members to evaluate the CoP’s achievements since its establishment. Participants shared updates on SRHR advocacy work in their respective countries, highlighting innovations, challenges, and progress made. The meeting also served as a great platform for CoP members to identify current priorities and future opportunities for strengthened advocacy and regional collaboration.” Ms. Nkonge further hailed IPPF’s partnership with FIGO/ECSACOG, citing the relevance of such collaborations, supported by FCDO through the WISH 2 project, in addressing the scale of unsafe abortion in the ECSA region. “Through meaningful collaborations with key stakeholders such as professional associations, the private sector, the civil society and governments, IPPF, as the lead of the WISH 2 project, aims to increase collective impact for SRHR success,” she said. Zimbabwe’s push for abortion legislation review Member country updates included Zimbabwe’s proposed Amendments to the Termination of Pregnancy Act (ToPA), as shared by Prof. Chipato Tsungai of the Zimbabwe Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ZSOG). Zimbabwe’s ToPA is highly restrictive, allowing abortion only in limited circumstances, such as when the pregnancy endangers a woman’s physical or mental health, or if the pregnancy is as a result of incest or rape, and which requires a magistrate’s approval through a judicial process. Additionally, abortion can only be carried out by a limited pool of medical practitioners. In this regard, Prof. Tsungai highlighted ZSOG’s advocacy for reform through the Medical Services Amendment Bill (2024). “Our call includes the removal of the tough approval requirements for an abortion, and requiring only consent from the pregnant woman,” he said, adding that the proposed amendments would expand the legal grounds for abortion by allowing abortion on request within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and up to 20 weeks where the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman’s physical or mental health, and if it results from sexual crimes (rape/incest), or if it involves severe foetal abnormality. Prof. Tsungai also said that the reforms aim to reduce incidents of unsafe abortions, align the law with Zimbabwe’s 2013 Constitution and the Maputo Protocol, as well as eliminate bureaucratic barriers that hinder women’s reproductive freedom. Telemedicine for expanded abortion access in Rwanda Dr. Dan Butare from the Rwanda Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (RSOG) highlighted the organization’s partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH) for expanded access to abortion care through telemedicine. “Our main challenge with abortion has been the fear and stigma around it, especially within health facilities. To address this, we focused on training midwives and nurses at local health facilities where we strengthened their capacity to provide safe medical abortion services through teleconsultations. The midwives and nurses are connected to doctors at the district hospitals, which helps in creating a supportive network that enables guidance and referrals where necessary,” he said. Making abortion services available in Kenya Dr. Nyawira Wahome from the Kenya Obstetrical Gynaecological Society (KOGS) noted one major reproductive rights victory in the country, where the High Court of Kenya in December 2025 lifted the 2018 ban on Marie Stopes Kenya (MSK) regarding the advertising of safe abortion and post-abortion care services. In August 2018, Marie Stopes Kenya (MSK), in collaboration with the MoH started a public awareness campaign on key issues around abortion. Soon after, various government agencies including the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board (KMPDB) directed MSK to end the campaign and stop offering any form of abortion services in all its facilities. MSK was also banned by the Director of Medical Services (DMS) from providing any form of post-abortion care (PAC) in its facilities. According to Dr. Wahome, the historic High Court of Kenya ruling affirmed that access to SRH information and services is protected by Kenya’s Constitution. ‘Coercive’ US agreements with African governments Mr. Erick Mundia, Policy Manager at Ipas shared insights on the US government’s new funding restrictions which will apply to new grants and cooperative agreements. He explained that these compact agreements could lead to the rollback of significant SRHR gains made in recent years across the world, and especially in Africa. “To qualify for US funding, the provisions in these Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are likely to restrict countries from spending their own tax revenues on things that the US administration disagrees with. If signed, these imbalanced agreements may compromise the autonomy of African governments and thus negatively impact on their health systems,” he said. Mr. Mundia urged ECSACOG member societies to strengthen their partnerships with in-country stakeholders and intensify their advocacy efforts in putting to task their governments and raising questions over these harmful agreements. Resetting priorities amid funding shifts At the close of the forum, participants shared their reflections.  “The CoP meeting was a great opportunity for the community to reset its priorities in SRHR and revitalise momentum in light of reduced USAID funding and the new expanded US compact agreements. We also got to learn a lot from our peers through the exchange of experiences and best practices, such as the adoption of telemedicine and self-care practices in abortion care,” said Dr. Swebby Macha from the Zambia Association of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (ZAGO).   Dr. Macha also lauded the support of all the partners - FIGO, IPPF and Ipas, noting their crucial role in improving visibility and strengthening the impact of SRHR programs, which result in improved contraception and safe abortion services. Call for more collaboration Ms. Tazirwa Chipeta, Program Director at IPPF’s Member Association in Malawi -the Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) highlighted the value of regional collaboration. “This was my first time participating in the CoP, and I’m impressed by the wealth of information I have gained. While FPAM participates in several in-country SRHR technical working groups (TWGs) where we share experiences from across Malawi, this forum has exposed me to the experiences of other countries in the region. Many of these experiences are similar to those of Malawi, while others differ, and it has been interesting to take lessons on how each country responds to challenges in each situation, and how they adapt for successful results. I have also taken note of innovations, strategies and best practices that can be adapted in the Malawi context,” she said. Ms. Chipeta also underscored the importance of leveraging on existing national and regional resources.   “The discussions in this forum have revealed the extent of untapped resources at both country and regional levels, yet they are within our reach. Our colleagues from the Association of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Malawi (AOGM) and other ECSACOG members are invaluable assets. Collaboration is key and by working together with different organizations, professional societies and midwives’ associations, we can collectively capitalize on our strengths and pool our resources to strengthen our advocacy on abortion and SRHR priorities,” she said. Reaffirmed commitment to SRHR in Africa Dr. Dereje Negussie, from the Ethiopian Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ESOG), and who also chairs the CoP, reaffirmed the group’s commitment. “The CoP will continue to unite its members to protect the SRHR of all Africans, with a strong focus on women and girls. By amplifying our collective voice, we will continue to push for progressive laws and policies, while advocating for the removal of barriers that hinder access to essential SRHR information and services,” he said. Ms. Mallah Tabot, the SRHR Lead at IPPF Africa Region, noted that the forum aligned with IPPF’s Come Together Strategy 2028 which, among other priorities, seeks to ensure that women and adolescents -especially those who are poor and marginalized, have a stronger voice, greater choice and more control over their reproductive health. “IPPF remains committed to strengthening regional solidarity to ensure that the SRHR rights for all are upheld, and the discussions at this forum have reaffirmed that commitment,” she said.

Nurse Mary used to spend four hours every weekend hunched over stacks of paper, manually correcting data errors before her Monday morning reports were due. As a senior SRHR provider at Chainda Urban Clinic in Lusaka, the high volume of clients meant that even small daily documentation errors could accumulate into major discrepancies by month’s end.  “I felt like I was working for the data, instead of the data working for me,” Mary recalls. “We were so busy serving women that the paperwork became a crisis we dealt with only when it was time to report.” — Nurse Mary, Chainda MCH Across WISH 2 countries, one lesson has become increasingly clear: quality SRHR services depend on quality data. However, the pathways to improving data accuracy differ significantly depending on context. In Zambia, Ethiopia, and Madagascar, WISH 2 supported three distinct yet complementary approaches, each tailored to local realities, demonstrating how data systems can be strengthened from the clinic level to national structures. Zambia: Provider-Led Micro-Innovation at Facility Level At Chainda Urban Clinic, the challenge was not a lack of commitment, but the pressure of service volume. Documentation was often postponed until month-end, errors accumulated, and data became a source of stress rather than a tool for care. With WISH 2 acting as an enabler rather than an enforcer, Nurse Mary introduced a simple innovation: a Daily Summary Ledger, a hard-cover notebook used to reconcile service data at the end of each shift. This shifted data verification from a 30-day crisis into a 15-minute daily routine. Errors were identified and corrected immediately, creating a real-time feedback loop between service delivery and reporting. The results were immediate and measurable. The clinic achieved a 100% match between facility registers and DHIS2, reducing data error rates from 15% in Q2 to 0% in Q3. Improved data accuracy strengthened supply chain forecasting, preventing contraceptive stock-outs and ensuring women received their preferred method. With no additional cost, the clinic freed 48 hours of health-worker time per month, which was reinvested directly into patient care. Ethiopia: Rebuilding Systems in Fragile and Post-Conflict Settings In contrast, the Afar Region of Ethiopia presented a fragile, post-conflict context where data challenges were systemic rather than procedural. Weak institutional foundations, inconsistent use of tally sheets, limited application of data quality assurance tools, skills gaps, and minimal data use for decision-making undermined service planning, particularly in pastoralist and conflict-affected communities. Under WISH 2, FGAE and government partners implemented a comprehensive system-strengthening approach anchored in national and sub-national structures. This included training 29 data management providers across 14 facilities, institutionalising monthly Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS), establishing performance monitoring teams, and providing standardised HMIS and DHIS2 tools. Crucially, responsibility for data management was formally transferred to woreda and city Health Information Technicians, reinforcing government ownership and sustainability. Technical oversight and verification were jointly conducted by sub-national health offices, FGAE Area Offices, FGAE Headquarters, IPPF, and third-party evaluators, OPM, supported by quarterly data verification, monthly reviews, and structured feedback loops. As a result, data completeness, accuracy, and timeliness improved significantly, and facilities increasingly used data to inform service planning and resource allocation. As noted by regional stakeholders:  “Supported health facilities have shown marked improvements in their data management systems, evidenced by more complete, accurate, and timely reporting, as observed during joint supportive supervision and routine data verification sessions with regional and sub-national health authorities.” — Afar Regional Health Bureau HMIS Focal Person and SRHR Expert Madagascar: Sustaining Change Through Government-Led Supervision Unlike Zambia’s provider-led micro-innovation or Ethiopia’s post-conflict system rebuilding, Madagascar’s challenge lay in routine supervision and consistent government follow-through. Early assessments revealed that over 40% of facilities had discrepancies between registers and Monthly Activity Reports. Rather than relying on one-off training, WISH 2 embedded data quality improvement within routine supportive supervision, led by Ministry of Health District and Regional teams. Supervision visits systematically compared reports against source documents, combined with on-the-job coaching and planned data cleaning. This hands-on, government-led approach reduced discrepancies, improved reporting timeliness, and strengthened provider confidence. As observed by the Ministry of Health:  “During the Routine Data Quality Assessment supervision conducted with the WISH 2 team, we observed significant improvement in data use among health workers who received training on data analysis and utilisation. They adopted new ways of working, which contributed to better performance. Extending this capacity building to all health personnel would further strengthen the system.” — Mr. Mamy Randrianasolo, Directorate of Family Health Data Manager, Ministry of Health Service providers reported higher motivation, driven by constructive feedback and a clearer understanding of how accurate data supports programme performance and service improvement. Data quality shifted from a compliance requirement to a shared responsibility, reinforced by visible use of data for decision-making. Together, these experiences demonstrate that there is no single solution to improving SRHR data quality. Zambia highlights the power of simple, provider-driven innovation; Ethiopia underscores the importance of institutional rebuilding in fragile environments; and Madagascar shows how routine, government-led supervision sustains improvement over time. What unites these approaches is WISH 2’s commitment to adaptive, context-responsive system strengthening, ensuring that accurate data ultimately serves its most important purpose: better SRHR care for women and girls. Key Learning: Data quality improves when solutions are context-specific, embedded in routine systems, and owned by those closest to service delivery. Provider-led micro-innovations can rapidly improve accuracy at facility level; system rebuilding is essential in fragile settings; and government-led supervision sustains improvements at scale. Across all contexts, WISH 2’s adaptive approach—meeting systems where they are, strengthening ownership, and integrating data use into daily practice—proved critical to lasting change.  

When the conflict reached El Fasher in late 2025, families fled with little more than what they could carry. Within weeks, an estimated 37,000 people arrived in Al-Dabbah, Northern State, transforming an open area into a newly established internally displaced person (IDP) camp almost overnight. Shelters went up quickly, but essential health services did not. For displaced women and adolescent girls, the consequences were immediate. Access to family planning, antenatal and postnatal care, and support for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) disappeared at the very moment when these services were most needed.  Adolescents, women with disabilities, and survivors of violence faced heightened risks in a fragile setting marked by limited infrastructure, overcrowding, and fear. One woman recalled the early days of displacement: “We escaped the fighting, but when we arrived here, there was nowhere to go for care. We did not know who to trust.” Recognizing the urgency, the Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA), with support from WISH 2, moved quickly. Within a short period, an integrated reproductive health clinic was established inside the Al-Dabbah IDP camp. Using temporary tents, mobile equipment, and essential reproductive health commodities, the clinic began providing family planning, maternal health services, and GBV- related support, restoring care where none had existed. In the first 3 months, the clinic served a very few women and girls, many of whom had gone weeks or months without access to care. Yet the success of the clinic was not only about infrastructure. It was about trust. A pivotal moment came with the assignment of Mr. Mubarak, a laboratory technician who himself had been displaced by the conflict. He spoke the local language, understood cultural norms, and shared the community’s lived experience of loss and uncertainty. “People were hesitant at first,” Mr. Mubarak explained. “But when they saw familiar faces, people who had lived what they lived, they began to believe the clinic was truly for them.” His presence helped overcome cultural barriers that often prevent women from seeking sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Alongside him, clinic staff received on-the-job mentoring in client-centred and culturally sensitive care, ensuring that every interaction prioritised dignity, confidentiality, and respect, particularly for GBV survivors. Gradually, trust grew. Women began returning, not just once, but repeatedly. Adolescents sought counselling. Pregnant women resumed antenatal visits. Survivors of violence found a safe place to be heard. One beneficiary described the change simply: “Now I can get family planning and maternal health services without worrying. The staff understand us. They treat us with respect.” Through the strategic engagement of local displaced professionals, the reuse of mobile and laboratory equipment, and the rapid mobilisation of limited resources, the intervention delivered timely and cost-effective results. Despite modest funding, the clinic restored essential services and strengthened the health system’s capacity to respond to emergencies, demonstrating strong value for money for the donor. The intervention showed that even in fragile and humanitarian settings, quality SRH services can be restored rapidly when responses are grounded in local leadership and adaptive learning. Challenges remained. Infrastructure was basic. Resources were stretched. Cultural hesitancy did not disappear overnight. But through adaptive strategies, engaging trusted community members, mentoring staff, and prioritising culturally appropriate care, the team transformed obstacles into learning. The experience in Al-Dabbah offers powerful lessons for other fragile contexts. Displaced professionals are not only beneficiaries; they are also essential responders. Trust and cultural understanding are as critical as medical supplies, and integrated, mobile SRH services can restore care, dignity, and hope even in times of crisis. Today, the clinic in Al- Dabbah stands as more than a health facility. It is a symbol of resilience, proof that with rapid action, local expertise, and dignity-centred care, displacement does not have to mean the end of access to essential health services. It is a reminder that even in the most uncertain moments, hope can be rebuilt, one service, one conversation, and one trusted face at a time.

In Karan District, Mogadishu, access to family planning (FP) services remains limited due to persistent myths and misconceptions about modern contraceptives, fear of side effects, and deeply rooted social norms. These barriers disproportionately affect women in fragile and humanitarian settings, where repeated pregnancies pose significant health risks and access to accurate information is constrained. Nimca Ahmed Ali, a 27-year-old mother of six, had never used modern family planning methods. Despite her husband’s encouragement, she resisted FP due to fear of perceived side effects and limited understanding of available options. Her husband, increasingly concerned about her declining health as a result of closely spaced pregnancies, sought support from health providers and encouraged Nimca to seek counselling at De-Martini Hospital. Under the WISH 2 project, Nimca received focused, client-centred counselling at De-Martini Hospital from a trained health care provider, Sagal. The provider had previously been trained in Empathways skills, enabling her to engage Nimca with empathy, active listening, and trust-building techniques that supported informed and voluntary decision-making. The counselling process addressed myths and misconceptions around family planning, explained how different FP methods work, discussed their benefits and potential side effects, and created space for Nimca to ask questions openly. Importantly, the approach encouraged constructive male partner engagement, ensuring Nimca’s husband was supportive without undermining her autonomy. Following comprehensive counselling and reassurance of continued follow-up support, Nimca chose Implanon, a long-acting reversible contraceptive, with a clear understanding of the method and confidence that she could return to the facility if she experienced any concerns. As observed during routine supervision and mentorship, Nimca’s decision to adopt family planning enabled her to delay her next pregnancy and regain control over her reproductive health. She reported improved physical and emotional well-being, reduced anxiety related to frequent pregnancies, and more stable family relationships. With fewer health concerns and increased confidence, she now has more time to care for her children and nurture her marriage. Nimca has since become an informal advocate within her community, encouraging other women to seek accurate information and counselling at health facilities rather than relying on rumours or fear. “I was afraid because I did not understand family planning. After counselling, I felt confident in my decision. I feel healthier, and my family is more stable.” — Nimca Ahmed Ali, FP client, Mogadishu Her experience demonstrates how empathetic counselling combined with supportive male engagement can shift attitudes, improve informed choice, and increase uptake of modern FP methods in fragile settings. Initial resistance driven by myths and fear of side effects was the primary challenge. This was addressed through personalised counselling, clear explanations using visual demonstrations, and assurance of follow-up care. Continuous support from the health care provider and Nimca’s husband helped reinforce confidence and sustain her choice. In fragile and humanitarian contexts, combining empathetic, client-centred counselling with supportive male partner engagement can effectively address myths and fears around contraception. When women are provided with accurate information, trust-based counselling, and space for family dialogue, uptake of modern family planning methods increases while preserving informed choice and autonomy.  

In Madagascar, where an estimated ten women die every day from pregnancy-related causes, access to accurate information can mean the difference between risk and safety. Although the country’s 2018 Family Planning Law provides a strong legal framework to support sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), many communities remain unaware of the services and protections available to them. Recognizing the power of media to influence public understanding, the WISH 2 programme partnered with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs (JHU-CCP) and NGO ILONTSERA to equip journalists with the knowledge and tools needed to shape informed conversations. In October 2025, 17 journalists gathered in Antsirabe for a three-day capacity-building workshop. Coming from radio, television, print, and digital outlets, they explored SRHR fundamentals, social and behavioural change approaches, and practical reporting techniques grounded in ethics and rights-based communication. For many participants, it was the first time they had engaged deeply with the Family Planning Law. “Before this training, I reported on health stories without fully understanding the policy behind them,” shared one participating radio journalist. “Now I feel responsible for helping my audience understand their rights.” Learning did not stop when the workshop ended. Over the next two months, participants received individualized mentoring from four specialized coaches who supported them through story development, editorial refinement, and technical guidance. This continued support helped journalists translate theory into impactful storytelling. The results were immediate. Between November 2025 and January 2026, journalists produced 113 media pieces, ranging from radio talk shows and investigative articles to television features and online campaigns. Coverage addressed family planning, sexuality education, HIV prevention, gender-based violence, and broader SRHR themes, reaching audiences in Antananarivo, Toliara, Toamasina, and beyond. For one television reporter, the experience reshaped her perspective on journalism itself. “I used to think advocacy belonged to NGOs,” she explained. “Now I see that responsible journalism can help change harmful norms and save lives.” The initiative was not without challenges. Some participants initially struggled with technical terminology and complex legal language. Facilitators responded by simplifying concepts and encouraging peer learning. Maintaining quality across a high volume of media outputs also required close mentoring and regular feedback sessions. Through these adaptive approaches, journalists strengthened their confidence and began to see themselves as agents of change within their newsrooms. Today, many of the trained journalists continue to champion gender-sensitive and rights-based reporting, helping bridge the gap between national policy and community understanding. Their stories are not only informing audiences but also creating space for dialogue around topics that were previously considered sensitive or misunderstood. “When people hear SRHR discussed respectfully on the radio, they realize these issues are part of everyday life,” said another participant. “It gives them permission to ask questions.” The Madagascar experience demonstrates how investing in local media can amplify advocacy efforts and foster lasting social change. By combining training with personalized mentoring, WISH 2 has created a model that can be replicated in other regions and fragile contexts. Future plans include expanding the approach to new areas, integrating themes such as mental health and positive masculinity, and building a media library to sustain learning. The message is clear: when journalists are empowered with knowledge and support, their voices become lifelines, connecting policy, community, and possibility.  

At the edge of Musenyi Congolese refugee camp in Muyinga Province, life is shaped by uncertainty. Families displaced by conflict live with overcrowded shelters, food insecurity, and limited freedom of movement. In such a fragile humanitarian setting, decisions about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) are often pushed aside, not because they are unimportant, but because survival comes first. For adolescents, young women, women of reproductive age, and couples, access to SRHR services has long been constrained. Strong sociocultural and religious resistance, widespread rumours about contraception, fear of stigma, and the absence of trusted service providers within the camp meant that many women quietly carried an unmet need for family planning. “People used to say contraceptives would make women infertile or sick,” recalls Aline, a young mother living in Musenyi. “I wanted to space my children, but I was afraid. There was no one I trusted to ask and the weight of community gossip made the isolation even worse” The numbers told the same story. In August 2025, before WISH 2 interventions began, uptake of Sayana Press, a discreet, self-injectable contraceptive well suited to humanitarian contexts, was almost non-existent, only three adolescent users under 20 and 20 women aged 25 and above accessed the method. Demand existed, but access and trust did not. Recognising that facility-based services alone could not meet needs in a humanitarian setting, IPPF’s Member Association, the Association Burundaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ABUBEF), through the WISH 2 project, adopted a different approach, one that placed trust, proximity, and lived experience at the centre. 60 community health workers (CHWs), women and men drawn directly from the refugee community, were trained to provide accurate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information, mobilise households, and deliver community-based distribution of contraceptives, with a focus on Sayana Press. The intervention was implemented in close collaboration with Burundi’s Ministry of Public Health, through the National Reproductive Health Programme, with technical support from national trainers and financial backing from WISH 2. For Jean-Claude, one of the newly trained CHWs, the shift was immediate: “Because I live here, people know me. They know my family and they see how I live. When I speak to them about family planning, they listen differently, with curiosity rather than suspicion. They ask questions they were too afraid to ask before about side effects and about their futures, because they know I have a stake in this community’s well-being just like they do.” Through community-level service delivery, WISH 2 complemented overstretched health facilities and overcame barriers linked to mobility, distance, and fear. The impact was visible within months. During supervised practical sessions, 300 Sayana Press injections were safely administered, with each trained CHW completing at least five validated injections. More importantly, trust began to replace fear. By December 2025, uptake had risen to 21 adolescent users and 121 women aged 25 and above, a significant shift from the earlier baseline and a clear sign of latent demand once barriers were addressed. Women reported greater confidence and autonomy in making reproductive choices. Rumours began to fade as accurate information spread through household visits, peer-to-peer conversations, and community dialogues. “Now I can talk openly,” says Aline. “The health worker is my neighbour. She explains everything. I chose Sayana Press because I feel safe and in control. Today, I realize that having the right information is the first step toward taking control of your own life.” This trust-based approach increased service uptake while strengthening community ownership and accountability. Building on these results, ABUBEF, through WISH 2, plans to institutionalise and scale this community-centred model to additional refugee camps, embedding people-led SRHR delivery within broader humanitarian health responses, demonstrating that in Musenyi, lasting change began not with infrastructure, but with neighbours empowered to restore choice and dignity.  

For Ziarata*, a young single mother in Togo, the contraceptive implant in her arm means more than just preventing an unplanned pregnancy. It means being able to better plan for her future and that of her son. A training she recently received from IPPF’s Member Association in the country, Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF), in collaboration with *Halsa International Togo, helped her make an informed decision about her sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Now rebuilding her life, 22 year-old Ziarata is looking forward to a brighter future. By Maryanne W. WAWERU My name is Ziarata. Every time I stretch out my left hand to feel the small insert beneath the skin in my upper arm, I become emotional. As I lightly press on the area, just to confirm that the insert is still there, I feel so relieved, knowing what this means for my son and I. My son is 14 months old and for several months, I had been agonizing about how to avoid another unplanned pregnancy. As a young single mother who is still trying to find direction in life, I did not want to get pregnant again anytime soon. However, I did not know how to prevent that from happening. How I got into sex work I studied up to level three in primary school, after which I dropped out. With nothing to do in the village, I travelled to the capital city of Lome in search of a job. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful in securing employment because I was underage and with little formal education. That is how, at a young age, I found myself destitute in the bustling city of Lome. As years went by, desperate and with no prospects of a decent job, I joined other girls who eked a living in Lome’s public beaches through sex work. While there, I became acquainted with an organization known as Halsa International -Togo, which supports vulnerable children, girls, and young women like me though different programmes. Among other initiatives, Halsa International trains us on economic empowerment, livelihood skills, and healthy living.   Learning about how to prevent another pregnancy About seven months ago, Halsa International organized a training for a group of young single mothers on how to run a vegetable garden as a viable economic opportunity that we could pursue. During this training, Halsa also facilitated learning sessions on sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which were conducted by ATBEF. Once a week, we would go to the location of the vegetable garden where we would tend to our vegetables in the early morning hours. Thereafter, the ATBEF team would educate us on different SRH topics, such as how to prevent pregnancy, how to avoid contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, how to negotiate for safe sex, safe abortion care, and sexual abuse among other topics. After ATBEF’s informative training sessions, we would then resume our gardening project in the afternoon. The training lasted one month. Taking measures to prevent an unplanned pregnancy It is during ATBEF’s trainings that I learnt about how I could prevent another pregnancy -something that had been worrying me for months. Thankfully, they complemented their teachings with related services and after learning about different contraceptive options, I settled on the five-year implant. I chose this method because it assured me of a pregnancy-free life for five years. As the nurse inserted the insert beneath the skin of my left upper arm, I felt relieved as I knew that I would now be able to better plan my life and that of my son, devoid of any pregnancy scares. I was even more excited to learn that I did not have to pay for the training or for the contraceptive implant, services that I would never have afforded. ATBEF catered for all the costs. Becoming an SRHR ambassador to my peers The reproductive health training provided by ATBEF in collaboration with Halsa International has been life changing. Today, I feel more empowered to make healthy decisions about my sex life. I now feel confident about negotiating for safe sex because I’m more aware of my rights. I believe I can now better protect myself from STIs and HIV. I now educate my peers on SRH because I feel knowledgeable about the topic. I have even convinced a few of them to access SRH services such as HIV testing and contraceptives from ATBEF, especially during the mobile clinics the organization conducts regularly around the public beaches where many sex workers can be found. Saving for a brighter future The training and the contraceptive I received also ignited a desire in me to change my life. Nowadays, I rise up early in the morning and head to the local market to help women traders sell their fruits and vegetables. From this, I’m able to earn about 1,500 CFA ($2.65) daily, which is about twice more than what I was making from sex work. I have even been able to set aside some savings, something that I was taught to do by Halsa International. These savings are giving me hope that someday, I will leave the public beaches and rent a small house for my son and I. That is why as I feel the small insert beneath the skin in my upper arm, I do so with relief, knowing that in five years’ time, my son will be in school, which is what I desire most for him. I intend for my son to pursue the highest level of education. With the contraceptive implant, I will have sufficient time to better plan my life. I believe there is so much I will have accomplished in those five years, thanks to the small insert beneath the skin in my upper arm, and thanks to ATBEF for making it possible. *Ziariata’s name changed to preserve anonymity *ATBEF collaborates with several partner organizations to empower young people across Togo. One such partner is Halsa International, which works to improve the lives of vulnerable populations especially children, adolescent girls, and women. Through this partnership, ATBEF provides SRHR information and services to Halsa International’s beneficiaries, such as young women like Ziarata.

The Comprehensive Abortion Care in West Africa (SCAAO) programme recently held its annual workshop in the west African country of Senegal. The forum was an important moment for IPPF's Member Associations (MAs) implementing the programme to review progress, exchange best practices and shape priorities for the next phase. This year’s workshop, which marked the close of Phase 1 and set the stage for Phase 2, helped in deepening learning and strengthening MA activities for greater impact. By Maryanne W. WAWERU From 19 – 20 November 2025, Senegal played host to the annual ‘Strategic Planning and Best Practices Workshop’ by the Comprehensive Abortion Care in West Africa (SCAAO) programme. Jointly funded by The Hewlett Foundation and the Foundation for a Just Society International, the SCAAO aims to expand access to person-centered abortion care for women and girls in Francophone West and Central Africa. Compared to the rest of sub-Saharan Africa, Francophone West Africa scores very low against some of the most critical sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) indicators. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 22 million unsafe abortions are performed each year, resulting in the deaths of 47,000 women and causing long-term health consequences in another 5 million women worldwide. Unsafe abortion is a major public health issue in West and Central Africa, and constitutes a major cause of maternal death. Western Africa has one of the highest rates of unsafe abortion in the world, with 28 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years. The sub-region has also struggled in a global context of limited funding resources and insufficient or unsustainable donor investments for SRHR. Where this investment has occurred, it has been plagued by siloed programming, limited sustainability mechanisms, and fallen short of ensuring a truly locally owned and gender transformative impact on women and girls. This challenge underscores the need for well-designed interventions like SCAAO that address these structural challenges through interventions. The SCAAO programme is being implemented by IPPF’s MAs in Niger, Togo, Cameroon and Burkina Faso. Learning and exchange platforms The annual SCAAO best practices workshops serve as important learning platforms where MAs exchange experiences, share innovations and reflect on challenges, successes and lessons learned. The sessions also provide opportunities for MAs to develop strategies aimed at strengthening implementation and improving overall programme outcomes. This year’s annual workshop was timely, coming at the end of phase 1 of the programme. It presented an ideal opportunity to reflect on progress, launch Phase 2 (2025 – 2028), and engage in cross-learning with other regional initiatives. The second phase of the programme will build on the gains made in Phase 1 by strengthening the expertise and activities of MAs around person-centered care, advocacy and capacity sharing. This will contribute to the broader goal of harnessing the unique strengths and opportunities of each actor in the SRHR ecosystem from government agencies to CSOs, healthcare providers, activists, lawmakers, and funders towards expanding access to abortion care for more women and girls in the sub-region. Cross-learning engagements To enhance cross-programme learning and assure sustainability within IPPF MAs, the 2025 SCAAO annual workshop included select projects from other MAs, specifically EmpowHER, Stand-Up, and the Advocacy for SRHR Project in West Africa. The EmpowHER project, being implemented in 13 countries (eight of them in the Africa region), endeavours to guarantee women and young girls’ access to quality reproductive healthcare. The Stand-UP project, being implemented by IPPF MAs in Uganda and Mozambique, contributes to the increased enjoyment of SRHR by adolescent girls and young women. The Advocacy for SRHR Project in West Africa focuses on advocacy and is aimed at strengthening access to SRHR services for adolescents and young people in Senegal and Cape Verde. Participants at the 2025 SCAAO annual workshop were drawn from the SCAAO implementing countries, as well as those from EmpowHER, Stand-UP and the Advocacy for SRHR Project in West Africa. Showcasing best practices   Several notable best practices were highlighted during the sessions. In Togo, Association Togolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ATBEF) has scaled up the use of telemedicine for abortion care while improving the abortion ecosystem by engaging in more open discussions with parliamentarians. This, with the support of the Ministry of Health (MoH). Similarly, the Cameroon National Planning Association for Family Welfare (CAMNAFAW) has made notable progress in increasing access to self-managed abortion and collaborating with a civil society organization (CSO) network to align the country’s abortion law to the Maputo Protocol dispositions. Both country interventions, which have been advanced through SCAAO, have led to more women and girls accessing abortion care services, thus fostering progress within an increasingly supportive environment. In Niger, L'Association Nigérienne pour le Bien-être Familial (ANBEF) has strengthened advocacy for post-abortion care (PAC) through Values Clarification and Attitudes Transformation (VCAT) trainings targeting key stakeholders such as MoH officials, religious leaders, civil society organizations, lawyers and other influential figures. Abortion remains a highly sensitive and taboo topic in Niger, and the country’s complex socio-cultural and political context only makes it harder to address. VCAT sessions encourage honest dialogues and reflections on sensitive reproductive health matters such as abortion, with the aim of deepening understanding and fostering support for the same. Dr. Maimuna Saley, the SCAAO Coordinator at ANBEF, says the VCAT trainings have significantly increased stakeholders’ understanding of women’s reproductive health. “We have noted a positive shift in attitudes among key stakeholders, many of whom are now collaborating with us to expand access to post-abortion care information and services for women and girls in Niger,” she said. IPPF’s MA in Burkina Faso, L'Association Burkinabè pour le Bien-Être Familial (ABBEF), which is an established leader in abortion care, has played a central role in building ANBEF’s capacity to strengthen its advocacy and service delivery. “Our team trained colleagues in Niger on VCAT. Afterward, with our guidance and support, the ANBEF trainers began delivering VCAT sessions to key stakeholders. The ANBEF team can now independently conduct these sessions, in activities that have helped to create a more supportive environment for abortion care and support in Niger,” said Dr. Mady Dera, the SCAAO Coordinator at ABBEF. ABBEF’s role has also covered the coordination of regional advocacy campaigns with regional stakeholders and institutions such as the Organisation for Safe Abortion Dialogue (ODAS). Additionally, ABBEF has established a pool of experts across the region to address key priorities related to abortion. Progress and impact Mr. Kader Avonnon, IPPF Africa Region’s SCAAO Programme Coordinator says the programme has so far achieved significant success. “Over 33,000 clients have received high-quality abortion care, including Post Abortion Care, with over 21,000 receiving support services for abortion self-care. Notably, 80% of the clients who received abortion care have been from poor and vulnerable backgrounds, which aligns with the programme’s commitment to equity.” he said. According to Mr. Avonnon, SCAAO has also increased the pool of service providers, who include staff from partner organisations. “We now have more healthcare workers who can offer abortion care. As a result, more girls and young women, including those in remote and marginalized areas where access was previously limited, are now receiving services from skilled providers. This has helped reduce unsafe abortion complications,” he explained. SCAAO’s role in IPPF’s mission During the workshop, Ms. Mallah Tabot, the IPPF Africa Region SRHR Lead emphasized the importance of the programme to IPPF’s broader mission. “The SCAAO programme is helping us rebuild the foundations of abortion care in a region that has been overlooked for far too long. It allows us to strategically close the gap between our mandate and our delivery in one of the toughest regions for abortion care, and to support our MAs to grow their readiness, transform culture and champion reproductive justice for the continent,” she said during the workshop. Ms. Tabot added that while many MAs were already providing abortion care, the SCAAO initiative has pushed their work to beyond service delivery. “It has helped us confront values, strengthen governance, build systems that make services safer, and positioned MAs as consistent and resilient leaders over time.” Participant perspectives At the close of the forum, participants shared their reflections. “The idea of person-centered abortion services stood out. This means considering the unique needs of each person seeking care and tailoring services to them. When it comes to abortion care, individual needs vary from person to person and therefore each case needs to be treated uniquely. The presentations from the different countries brought out this important aspect of abortion care very clearly,” said Ms. Yasmilatou Aboudoulaye from IPPF’s MA in Benin, Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF). Mr. Mohammed Ka from IPPF’s MA in Senegal, Action and Development (AcDev) similarly shared his reflections. “The best practices showcased by the MAs gave me great insights into how the same programme can be adapted to different contexts and still deliver results. The experience of Niger was very interesting as it showed how ANBEF has made great strides in abortion advocacy, meaning that even in difficult contexts, success is still possible. I learnt so much and I’m keen to share these ideas with my colleagues at AcDev as there is a lot we can replicate to enhance our work,” he said. At the end of the workshop, participants left very inspired and motivated to strengthen abortion care in their countries –a great momentum to the start of Phase 2 of the noteworthy SCAAO programme.