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Benin

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SBPF Staff with Alvaro
08 February 2024

Spotlight on Benin: IPPF Director General's Trip Reinvigorates SRHR Progress

By Moctar MENTA The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Director General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo visited Benin from February 3rd to 7th, 2024. This milestone visit, the first ever to Benin, aimed to strengthen ongoing collaboration between IPPF and its member association “Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille – ABPF”. It builds on the remarkable advances Benin has made in sexual and reproductive health and rights - most notably the recent passing and enactment of a historic sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) legal framework liberalizing abortion, representing a first for the West African sub-region.  Warm Welcome by ABPF Leadership, Staff and Youth  Upon arrival in Cotonou, IPPF Director General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo was greeted by the leadership of the ABPF, including Executive Director, Mr. Comlan Christian Agbozo,  Board Chair Ms. Olive Fleur Oussougoe, past-Chair Ms. Judith Maffon Gbehinto, and Youth Chair Ms. Joliane Attolou.  They held a briefing session focused on ABPF’s expanding sexual and reproductive health programs across communities, through static clinics, mobile outreach, extensive partnerships, and over 1,000 dedicated youth volunteers. Discussions centered on challenges around financing and conservative opposition, alongside opportunities leveraging Benin’s new landmark SRHR legal framework ushering healthcare access and equity.  Engagements with Key Government Partners  During his stay, Dr. Alvaro Bermejo met with high-level stakeholders to discuss strengthening collaboration and commitment to advance SRHR in Benin.  Honorable Louis Vlavonou, President of the National Assembly, expressed gratitude for IPPF and member association ABPF Benin's vital support in the successful passage of landmark laws in 2021 focused on protecting reproductive rights, combatting gender-based violence and upholding healthcare access.  "IPPF and ABPF Benin have been indispensable partners in driving the legal reforms expanding healthcare access and equity in Benin. We reinforce our joint efforts to ensure comprehensive oversight and implementation of these hard-won policies," said President Vlavonou.  His Excellency Abdoulaye Bio Tchane, Minister of State for Planning and Development, invited IPPF and ABPF Benin to contribute technical expertise in upcoming national advocacy focused on balanced family planning and ensuring parents are empowered to sustainably provide for children.  "Benin has been a leader regionally on population policies balancing reproductive rights with sustainable development. We welcome IPPF and ABPF's ongoing contributions across awareness, service delivery and impactful cooperation with government," Minister Bio Tchane remarked.  Ms. Huguette Bokpe Gnacadja, President of the National Women’s Institute, applauded ABPF Benin’s longstanding community programs advancing gender equality and women’s social, economic and political representation across Benin. She reinforced steadfast collaboration translating policy commitments into impactful change.  Underscoring Regional Leadership on SRHR  Additionally, Dr. Bermejo met with the Minister of Health, His Excellency Benjamin Hounkpatin, to discuss Benin's potential to serve as a model on SRHR progress regionally.  "Benin's advances on healthcare access and equity can set an example and learnings for other African countries to replicate," noted Dr. Bermejo.  He reiterated IPPF’s firm support through ABPF Benin to ensure comprehensive rollout and oversight of Benin’s new SRHR legal framework.  Minister Hounkpatin acknowledged ABPF Benin’s 50+ years of outstanding SRHR programs and reinforced commitment to maintain momentum ushering in a new era of healthcare in Benin.  High-Level Panel to Advance Joint Civil Society Roadmap  On his last day visiting Benin, Dr. Bermejo participated in a high-level panel discussion focused on “Civil Society Organizations at the Heart of Promoting Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility for Sexual and Reproductive Health.”  The event brought together diverse local CSOs to explore persistent SRHR challenges, identify collaborative solutions, and reinforce coordination toward universal healthcare access grounded in rights, inclusion, and partnerships across all of Benin’s communities.  Reinvigorated Momentum to Uphold SRHR in Benin  IPPF Director General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo’s visit galvanized actors across Benin's government and civil society, forging purposeful collaboration to build on remarkable progress. By spotlighting ABPF's impact and securing high-level commitments, the trip paved the way for intensified cooperation upholding access and equity to transform sexual and reproductive health outcomes. 

Hayate story
26 May 2023

Volunteer becomes “lifelong activist in the name of sexual education” for Togo’s youth

From the Government of Canada’s website Growing up in Sokodé, a city in central Togo, Hayathe Ayeva dreamed of a career as a health-care professional. She studied hard in school and saw similar drive and lots of potential in the girls around her. But by the age of 12, some of her friends were becoming sexually active. With no access to sexuality education teaching them about consent and bodily autonomy or birth control in the conservative community, the doors to whatever future they had hoped for quickly closed. “I really couldn’t stand to see my friends, who were brilliant at school and surely promised a bright future, suddenly drop out because of early marriage, pregnancy or gender-based violence,” Ayeva recalls. “This is something that saddened and revolted me because I believed that, together, we should go on to higher education and become financially independent. I decided to fully commit myself to the defence of human rights, especially reproductive-health rights.” Hayathe Ayeva, a volunteer at ATBEF, says sexuality education reduces taboos and encourages people to be “more willing to talk about sexuality.” Credit: ATBEF Ayeva was motivated to join the Association Togolaise Pour le Bien-Être Familial [Togolese association for family welfare] (ATBEF), a non-governmental organization in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights that is a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). She began volunteering as a peer educator, helping young people learn about everything from how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections to the proper use of contraceptives. Today, Ayeva, 23, is the national president of ATBEF’s Youth Action Movement. Through a project supported by Global Affairs Canada, the organization has established kiosks that offer contraceptive services and other initiatives adapted to the needs of young people at 2 public universities in Togo. There are also mobile clinics, a smart phone app called InfoAdoJeune [InfoTeenYouth] that provides teleconsultation services and an e-learning platform with free online comprehensive sexuality education courses for youth. The project supports a youth centre that includes meeting and training spaces and a health clinic, as well as games in the front garden that help to draw in young people. Credit: ATBEF Such interventions are critical given Togo’s young population, she says. In the West African country of more than 7.2 million people, some 60% are under 25 years old, while 42% are under 15. And 1 in 6 girls give birth before the age of 18. Ayeva says there are many obstacles to improving sexual understanding among the country’s young people. These include sexual taboos, the long distances required to get to youth-friendly health services, and young peoples’ limited access to public health centres and to sexuality information and contraceptive care. The efforts supported by Canada are making a difference by building the capacity of youth advisers who deliver clinical services, the young volunteer says. ATBEF hosts and runs various activities, ensuring that young people get access to “the right information” confidentially, she says. The numbers are significant. In 2021, despite the COVID-19 crisis, the 2 university kiosks provided 28,154 educational and health services to Togolese youths. In 2022, ATBEF provided 172,538 services through the Global Affairs Canada-supported program. In the ATBEF kiosk at the University of Lomé, trained staff members and volunteers provide contraceptives and referrals as needed. Credit: ATBEF Ayeva, who lives in Togo’s capital of Lomé and became a member of the global board of trustees of the IPPF last November, is ever mindful of her young friends who had to stop their studies because of early marriages and pregnancies. “I’m constantly challenged by my conscience,” she says. “I really want to make a change among the young population.” She’s proud to be a young leader and role model in her community, calling herself a “lifelong activist in the name of sexual education.” She feels that through the activities of ATBEF, with the assistance of partners such as Canada, “taboos are a little bit reduced today and people are more willing to talk about sexuality.” She is pursuing her goal of becoming a doctor of public health responsible for a large social organization. Last year, Ayeva graduated with a degree in pharmaceutical science, and she plans to pursue a master’s in public health next. She would ultimately like to work in a field such as reproductive science and get a position as a specialist with the United Nations. A nurse at a mobile clinic provides family-planning counselling and contraceptive pills to a woman. Credit: ATBEF Ayeva writes poetry and recently composed a poem for an IPPF event in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Titled “J’ai peur” [“I am afraid”], it expresses her concerns about rising rates of teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and discrimination. While her poem paints a bleak picture of society, it notes that [translation] “destiny lies in the hands of its youth” and emphasizes the importance of activism. “Beyond my fear, I remain confident,/…I see a glimmer of hope on the horizon,” Ayeva writes. “Together we can change the world.”

Benin news in NY Time

The New York Times article: A Year After Widening Abortion Access, Benin Sees Fewer Botched Ones

sexual-reproductive-health-Africa
25 October 2022

IPPFAR Statement: Expanding Access to Abortion Care: Regional Safe Abortion Dialogue in Francophone Africa

24 October 2022. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 45% of all abortions are unsafe and almost all of these occur in developing countries[1]. An unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking minimal medical standards or both. Unsafe abortions result in the deaths of 47,000 women every year and leaves millions temporarily or permanently disabled[2]. An estimated 93% of women of reproductive age in Africa live in countries with restrictive abortion laws[3]. This means that the countries’ laws only permit abortion in certain cases, often only if there is risk to the woman’s life, her health, the pregnancy is the result of rape, or there is evidence of foetal impairment. On this first-day of the Regional Safe Abortion Dialogue, organized by the Organisation pour le Dialogue sur l'Avortement Sécurisé (ODAS), IPPF Africa Region reaffirms its commitment to championing and providing abortion care and reducing the number of deaths of women and girls who are forced to turn to unsafe abortion methods for fear of arrests and harassment. IPPF Africa Region would also like to amplify the statement made by the  Honourable Commissioner Janet R Sallah-Njie, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Pressrelease (achpr.org) urging State Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter) to honour their commitments under the African Charter; and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol or Protocol), by decriminalising abortion in their respective countries. “We applaud ODAS and all the other partnerships and actors who are working tirelessly to expand access to abortion care. Almost 90% of abortions in countries with liberal abortion laws are considered safe, compared to only 25% in countries where abortion is banned. This is a gross violation of human rights. Medical abortion has revolutionised access to care and safe abortion, both inside and outside the health system; and safe and effective abortion self-care means that people can now safely terminate their pregnancies in the privacy of their own homes. These advances must be protected,” said Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry, Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Africa Region. “Ensuring accessing to abortion care is critical for the complete fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights”, added Comlan Christian Agbozo, the Executive Director of the Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF). “As one of the leading providers of sexual and reproductive health services in Benin, we are very fortunate that the new law passed in Benin in November 2021, is providing women with expanded options to access abortion care in instances that they may not want, or be able, to continue with a pregnancy.” The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) is one of the leading providers of quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Africa and a prominent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region. For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube. [1] Abortion (who.int) [2] WHO | Preventing unsafe abortion [3] Abortion in Africa | Guttmacher Institute

Benin_Abortion Stigma Packard
25 October 2021

Historic Moment for Benin as New Law Legalizing Abortion Adopted

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) welcomes the news of abortion law reform in Benin.  On 20 October 2021, the Benin National Assembly voted to significantly widen the conditions under which women and gender non-confirming people can legally access abortion care. The new law will now allow women and gender non-conforming people to end their pregnancy within the first three months if it is likely to "aggravate or cause material, educational, professional or moral distress, incompatible with the woman or the unborn child's interest.” Under Benin’s previous abortion law, it was only permissible to seek abortion care if the pregnancy ‘threatened the life of the mother’, was ‘the result of a rape or incest’ or when ‘the unborn child has a particularly severe affection’. In a country where an estimated that 200 women die annually from unsafe abortion, the new law will undoubtedly save lives.  IPPF is proud that its Member Association in the country, Association Beninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF), was directly involved in advocating for change in the abortion law. The organization’s involvement began years ago, when it intensified its advocacy activities with key stakeholders, most notably the Network of Parliamentarians for Population and Development, made up of several Members of Parliament (MPs) committed to championing sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Among its activities, ABPF organized capacity building and advocacy sessions with parliamentarians. It also proposed an extension of the law on abortion in a code on sexual and reproductive health, which was developed and presented to the MPs.  Mr. Christian Agbozo, Executive Director of ABPF says that it was this close collaboration with lawmakers and other key stakeholders, both in the private and public sector that led to this success.   "The new law is a step forward for the rights of Beninese women. ABPF’s involvement in advocating for abortion liberalization was necessary not only to ensure women's right to decide, but to also allow ABPF service providers to provide comprehensive abortion care services without being subjected to prosecution in the future. The new law will help more women receive safe abortion care and exercise their reproductive rights and freedoms. It is a proud moment for us all,” he says. IPPF Africa Regional Director Mrs. Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry acknowledged Benin’s progressive step in voting for the legalization of abortion.   “As an institution that believes in the unreserved upholding of the human rights of all people, we affirm that this is indeed a great win not only for the women and girls of Benin, but for women and girls across the region. Following in the footsteps of two other countries in the continent, South Africa and Cape Verde, Benin has demonstrated its commitment to women’s reproductive freedom, and we hope that other African countries will follow” she said.   Mrs. Petrus-Barry further reiterated IPPF’s commitment to advocating for the repeal of retrogressive laws and policies that infringe on their reproductive autonomy, and development of those that allow them to exercise their sexual reproductive health and rights.   Her sentiments were echoed by IPPF’s Director General, Dr. Alvaro Bermejo.  “We are extremely pleased to see the long-awaited expansion of abortion provision in Benin and applaud the National Assembly for recognising the dignity, humanity and sexual and reproductive rights of Beninese people seeking abortion care. We are also proud of our Member Association, ABPF, for its continued hope and advocacy in Benin.”  Dr. Bermejo acknowledged the dedicated efforts by African countries to push back against colonial and archaic abortion laws that hold their communities back. “IPPF is honored to be a part of that movement and will never stop fighting for safe and legal abortion care for all those who need it.” For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube.

Bringing Comprehensive Sexuality Education Online in Benin
24 June 2021

Adapting Family Planning Services in Times of Crisis: Bringing Comprehensive Sexuality Education Online in Benin

The COVID-19 outbreak created the largest disruption of education systems in history. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94% of the world’s student population, of which 99% are in low and lower-middle-income countries1. UNESCO estimated in July 2020 that about 24 million learners, from pre-primary to university level, were at risk of not returning to school because of COVID-19 disruptions. The restrictive measures to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus have made it even more difficult for young people to access essential life-saving sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, including comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and contraception. This has put them at greater risk of teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortion, gender-based violence (GBV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV; making access to out-of-school sexuality education and services even more urgent. 64.4% of Benin’s population is under the age of 25 years. Even though CSE has been included in the secondary school curriculum since 2018, following advocacy efforts by our Member Association in the country, the Association Beninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) and other organizations, CSE education is only delivered in few pilot schools and does not include issues of diversity and sexual fulfilment. In response to the difficult situation presented by COVID-19, ABPF developed online CSE sessions during the pandemic, in a bid to ensure adolescents and young people could continue to access CSE. Download the complete case study here:  Bringing Comprehensive Sexuality Education Online in Benin

Kader Avonnon
04 December 2019

"Why I Advocate for Men's Involvement in Female Condom Use" -Avonnon Kader

By Maryanne W. Waweru 28-year-old Kader Avonnon is the Program Assistant -Youth, Gender and Advocacy in IPPF’s MA in Benin - Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF). “In my country, cases of unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV among young people are quite alarming, more so in women. As a youth SRHR advocate, I believe in the importance of women holding contraceptive power in their hands -literally, and the female condom does exactly that. It is therefore prudent that we remain steadfast in our efforts to empower more young women in learning about how they can take control of their reproductive health,” he says. Just like the male condom, the FC2 female condom blocks sperm and the bacteria or viruses that cause STIs. The outer ring provides added protection against STIs by covering the woman’s external sex organs and the base of the penis. When used correctly and consistently, it is as effective as other barrier methods. Kader, who started out as a volunteer peer educator with ABPF’s Youth Action Movement (YAM) at the age of 20, adds that education about female condoms should not be a preserve of women. “During our outreaches, we also give information about the female condom to men. Without their involvement and cooperation, women will not be successful in using the female condom. Men need to clearly understand the benefits of the female condom, its correct use, where it can be accessed or purchased and at what cost. They must support their girlfriends in decision making when it comes to issues of sex. That’s why we don’t leave men out in our education activities,” says Kader. It also goes that sometimes, a couple might be unsatisfied with male condoms, hence why it is important for them to know that there is the option of the female condom. During ABPF’s community outreaches, youth peer educators do demonstrations about the correct use of both female and male condoms. They then distribute them to the young people who need them. The female condoms are also available at all ABPF’s clinics. They are given free-of-charge. “In all the forums I find myself in where there are men, I always take a moment to encourage them to be involved in contraceptive decisions with their girlfriends. It’s one of the best ways to show their love and support,” concludes Kader. Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. If you are young person and would like to join the Youth Action Movement, see where we work and get in touch. You can also reach us through @YAM Africa For more updates on our work, follow us on Facebook and Twitter Images are of Kader at an exhibition stand at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Kigali, Rwanda (2 - 7 December 2019).

Oswald-Homeky
08 November 2019

Benin Sports Minister Reiterates Commitment to Supporting the Youth SRHR Agenda During Regional Francophone Forum

By Maryanne W. Waweru Cotonou, BENIN: The Minister of Sports Mr. Oswald Homeky joined youth from French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries during the closing ceremony of the second edition of the Francophone regional forum aimed at sharing best practices on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among adolescents and young people. The regional forum was organized by the Benin chapter of the Youth Action Movement (YAM) and was supported by the Embassy of Netherlands in Benin, together with IPPF. It brought together over 150 youth from 20 different countries. YAM is the youth arm of IPPF Africa Region’s volunteer body based within the Member Associations (MAs). The Sports Minister congratulated the youth for their noble initiative of knowledge exchange between each other, especially on the crucial matter of their sexual reproductive health and well-being. Mr. Homeky further appreciated the work of IPPF’s Member Association in Benin - Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) and its partners in putting youth at the forefront and prioritizing the youth agenda in their programs. The Sports Minister committed to increasing the budget for youth Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) activities. He also acknowledged the importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and reiterated his availability to support young people’s meaningful participation in development matters. Mr. Homeky pledged to support the implementation of recommendations from the forum. See Related Story: Regional Forum on SRHR Best Practices Among Youth in Francophone Africa During the meeting, IPPFAR’s Regional President Hon. Antonio Niquice lauded the brilliant initiative by the young people of Francophone Africa in coming together to share experiences and discuss about how they can tackle some of the sexual and reproductive health challenges facing them. He emphasized IPPF’s commitment to promoting youth-centered approaches and support the implementation of the resolutions from the forum. Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou
16 December 2015

Parliamentarians are Key to Realizing Demographic Dividend in Africa

African parliamentarians must seek ways of mobilizing resources to fund the demographic dividend agenda in their countries. This is according to the IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou, who made these remarks during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity building workshop for African Parliamentarians held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 – 15 December 2015. The meeting, attended by 13 legislators drawn from the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), was aimed at enhancing the legislators' understanding of the concept of the ‘Demographic Dividend’, and their role in moving forward related agenda. The demographic dividend refers to the accelerated economic growth initiated by a rapid decline in fertility and mortality, and which results in a change of the age structure in the population –from one dominated by child dependents to one driven by an economically productive adult workforce. “Harnessing the demographic dividend is fundamental to Africa’s development. A demographic shift in any population is important because of it's direct bearing to among others: economic growth, education levels, poverty levels and the health and well-being of a nation. The current demographic transition in Africa is one that has the ability to steer the next surge of economic growth - with a population characterized by healthier and more educated youth, and who will have greater access to the labour force and economic markets. African leaders therefore need to put in place measures that will ensure that the continent harnesses the dividend from Africa’s youthful population,” he said. A new report from the World Bank reveals that government policies and other related actions undertaken today will increase the likelihood of harnessing various economic and social benefits of demographic change. “Parliamentarians are instrumental in this process, as they are the ones involved in the formulation of policies and legislations. When a country has the right set of policies in place, it is better placed to reap the benefits of a demographic change, hence the need to involve Members of Parliament in all conversations around the demographic dividend. There is no doubt that the demographic dividend can be achieved in Africa, if the right policies are instituted,” said Mr. Kouakou. The capacity building initiative for the African legislators, organized by IPPF and UNFPA and themed: "Moving the Demographic Dividend Agenda: from Ideas to Actions", established a harmonized understanding of the demographic dividend among the MPs, and helped define their level of engagement in advancing this agenda in their countries. A clear roadmap for moving forward the demographic dividend agenda at both regional and national levels was developed during the forum. Members of parliament who attended the forum included: Hon. Chris Baryomunsi (Uganda), Hon. Marie-Rose Nguini Effa (Cameroon), Hon. Jose Manuel Tavares Sanches (Cape Verde), Hon. Mbaidessemel Dionadiji (Chad), Hon. Zalikatou Diallo (Guinea Conakry), Hon. Larry Younquoi (Liberia), Hon. Illa Ousmane (Niger), Hon. Helen Kuyembeh (Sierra Leone), Hon. Dlamini Princess Phumelele (Swaziland), Hon. Highvie Hamdudu (Zambia), Hon. Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman (Nigeria), Hon. Ahmed Babou Babah (Mauritania) and Hon. Sado Nazaire (Benin). In his speech, Mr. Kouakou called on the MPs to take a lead role in mobilizing resources that will ensure that the demographic dividend will be realized in their countries. “Parliamentarians can influence their colleagues and garner their support for the formulation of policies and legislations, specifically those related to population and development. They can call for more budgetary allocation to respective institutions, such as the Ministries of Planning and Development, The Ministries of Health and Education, as well as institutions that focus on the youth. They can also take the lead in seeking innovative ways of mobilizing resources at the local level that would champion population and related issues. Members of Parliament have an unmatched role in steering development in their countries,” he said. Mr. Kouakou further urged the legislators to take advantage of the resource that is partners who have a presence in the region, such as IPPF and UNFPA – entities that are committed to Africa’s growth. Development partners, if convinced that the demographic dividend is key to the growth of the region, will definitely assist in different ways, including offering technical assistance, capacity building and mobilization of resources, he said. “IPPF and UNFPA are committed to this agenda, and are working in collaboration with the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA) to implement a programme that will ensure that all African countries are on track to realizing the demographic dividend. The project is initially slated for implementation in the six countries of Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, with more countries being incorporated in the coming years. We are keen on ensuring that no country is left behind,” he said. The Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), which was established in 2012, seeks to exchange and coordinate action in support of the ICPD Beyond 2014. FPA also seeks to ensure that parliamentarians assist in the implementation of the ICPD Beyond 2014 Agenda by adopting initiatives in population policies, as well as harmonisation of African legislation on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). At the Abidjan General Assembly meeting in 2014, FPA reaffirmed its purpose as a regional body established to drive the agenda on population and development at both the national and regional levels.

Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille

The Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) has been operating for 38 years. ABPF offers family planning, ante-natal and post-abortion care, infertility treatment, screening of cancers of the reproductive system, and management of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV and AIDS). Its service points include permanent and mobile clinics.

ABPF is focused on reaching marginalized groups such as prisoners, sex workers, refugees and internally displaced persons. The majority of clients are estimated to be poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served.

To reduce the national maternal mortality rate, ABPF operates an effective community-based obstetric and antenatal care service in 16 villages, using traditional birth attendants and volunteer health workers. ABPF also runs a locally-based service for young people which involves hundreds of community-based distributors (CBDs) and peer educators providing young people with sexual and reproductive health information, condoms and counselling services.

In acknowledgment of ABPF’s expertise and accomplishments, the Government of Benin invited the organization to become a member of the technical committee (in the Ministry of Planning) that drafts reproductive health policies: the Population Policy, the Family Health Policy, HIV and AIDS policies and the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy.

Whilst ABPF has recorded major advances in sexual and reproductive health, there are still very significant challenges as the figures for lifetime risk of maternal death, child mortality rate and unmet need for contraception of illustrate.

Driving the work of ABPF is a large and dedicated team of hundreds of volunteers. There’s a Youth Action Movement which draws on the skills of young people. ABPF works in partnership with a range of government organisations, including parliament, the Ministère de la Famille, the Ministère de la Jeunesse, and the Ministère du Plan. Funders include USAID. Non-goverrnmental organizations working with ABPF include the Country Co-ordinating Mechanism for health and sexual and reproductive health.   

Contacts

Website: http://www.abpf.org/nouv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABPF.IPPF/

SBPF Staff with Alvaro
08 February 2024

Spotlight on Benin: IPPF Director General's Trip Reinvigorates SRHR Progress

By Moctar MENTA The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Director General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo visited Benin from February 3rd to 7th, 2024. This milestone visit, the first ever to Benin, aimed to strengthen ongoing collaboration between IPPF and its member association “Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille – ABPF”. It builds on the remarkable advances Benin has made in sexual and reproductive health and rights - most notably the recent passing and enactment of a historic sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) legal framework liberalizing abortion, representing a first for the West African sub-region.  Warm Welcome by ABPF Leadership, Staff and Youth  Upon arrival in Cotonou, IPPF Director General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo was greeted by the leadership of the ABPF, including Executive Director, Mr. Comlan Christian Agbozo,  Board Chair Ms. Olive Fleur Oussougoe, past-Chair Ms. Judith Maffon Gbehinto, and Youth Chair Ms. Joliane Attolou.  They held a briefing session focused on ABPF’s expanding sexual and reproductive health programs across communities, through static clinics, mobile outreach, extensive partnerships, and over 1,000 dedicated youth volunteers. Discussions centered on challenges around financing and conservative opposition, alongside opportunities leveraging Benin’s new landmark SRHR legal framework ushering healthcare access and equity.  Engagements with Key Government Partners  During his stay, Dr. Alvaro Bermejo met with high-level stakeholders to discuss strengthening collaboration and commitment to advance SRHR in Benin.  Honorable Louis Vlavonou, President of the National Assembly, expressed gratitude for IPPF and member association ABPF Benin's vital support in the successful passage of landmark laws in 2021 focused on protecting reproductive rights, combatting gender-based violence and upholding healthcare access.  "IPPF and ABPF Benin have been indispensable partners in driving the legal reforms expanding healthcare access and equity in Benin. We reinforce our joint efforts to ensure comprehensive oversight and implementation of these hard-won policies," said President Vlavonou.  His Excellency Abdoulaye Bio Tchane, Minister of State for Planning and Development, invited IPPF and ABPF Benin to contribute technical expertise in upcoming national advocacy focused on balanced family planning and ensuring parents are empowered to sustainably provide for children.  "Benin has been a leader regionally on population policies balancing reproductive rights with sustainable development. We welcome IPPF and ABPF's ongoing contributions across awareness, service delivery and impactful cooperation with government," Minister Bio Tchane remarked.  Ms. Huguette Bokpe Gnacadja, President of the National Women’s Institute, applauded ABPF Benin’s longstanding community programs advancing gender equality and women’s social, economic and political representation across Benin. She reinforced steadfast collaboration translating policy commitments into impactful change.  Underscoring Regional Leadership on SRHR  Additionally, Dr. Bermejo met with the Minister of Health, His Excellency Benjamin Hounkpatin, to discuss Benin's potential to serve as a model on SRHR progress regionally.  "Benin's advances on healthcare access and equity can set an example and learnings for other African countries to replicate," noted Dr. Bermejo.  He reiterated IPPF’s firm support through ABPF Benin to ensure comprehensive rollout and oversight of Benin’s new SRHR legal framework.  Minister Hounkpatin acknowledged ABPF Benin’s 50+ years of outstanding SRHR programs and reinforced commitment to maintain momentum ushering in a new era of healthcare in Benin.  High-Level Panel to Advance Joint Civil Society Roadmap  On his last day visiting Benin, Dr. Bermejo participated in a high-level panel discussion focused on “Civil Society Organizations at the Heart of Promoting Sustainable Development and Social Responsibility for Sexual and Reproductive Health.”  The event brought together diverse local CSOs to explore persistent SRHR challenges, identify collaborative solutions, and reinforce coordination toward universal healthcare access grounded in rights, inclusion, and partnerships across all of Benin’s communities.  Reinvigorated Momentum to Uphold SRHR in Benin  IPPF Director General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo’s visit galvanized actors across Benin's government and civil society, forging purposeful collaboration to build on remarkable progress. By spotlighting ABPF's impact and securing high-level commitments, the trip paved the way for intensified cooperation upholding access and equity to transform sexual and reproductive health outcomes. 

Hayate story
26 May 2023

Volunteer becomes “lifelong activist in the name of sexual education” for Togo’s youth

From the Government of Canada’s website Growing up in Sokodé, a city in central Togo, Hayathe Ayeva dreamed of a career as a health-care professional. She studied hard in school and saw similar drive and lots of potential in the girls around her. But by the age of 12, some of her friends were becoming sexually active. With no access to sexuality education teaching them about consent and bodily autonomy or birth control in the conservative community, the doors to whatever future they had hoped for quickly closed. “I really couldn’t stand to see my friends, who were brilliant at school and surely promised a bright future, suddenly drop out because of early marriage, pregnancy or gender-based violence,” Ayeva recalls. “This is something that saddened and revolted me because I believed that, together, we should go on to higher education and become financially independent. I decided to fully commit myself to the defence of human rights, especially reproductive-health rights.” Hayathe Ayeva, a volunteer at ATBEF, says sexuality education reduces taboos and encourages people to be “more willing to talk about sexuality.” Credit: ATBEF Ayeva was motivated to join the Association Togolaise Pour le Bien-Être Familial [Togolese association for family welfare] (ATBEF), a non-governmental organization in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights that is a member association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). She began volunteering as a peer educator, helping young people learn about everything from how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections to the proper use of contraceptives. Today, Ayeva, 23, is the national president of ATBEF’s Youth Action Movement. Through a project supported by Global Affairs Canada, the organization has established kiosks that offer contraceptive services and other initiatives adapted to the needs of young people at 2 public universities in Togo. There are also mobile clinics, a smart phone app called InfoAdoJeune [InfoTeenYouth] that provides teleconsultation services and an e-learning platform with free online comprehensive sexuality education courses for youth. The project supports a youth centre that includes meeting and training spaces and a health clinic, as well as games in the front garden that help to draw in young people. Credit: ATBEF Such interventions are critical given Togo’s young population, she says. In the West African country of more than 7.2 million people, some 60% are under 25 years old, while 42% are under 15. And 1 in 6 girls give birth before the age of 18. Ayeva says there are many obstacles to improving sexual understanding among the country’s young people. These include sexual taboos, the long distances required to get to youth-friendly health services, and young peoples’ limited access to public health centres and to sexuality information and contraceptive care. The efforts supported by Canada are making a difference by building the capacity of youth advisers who deliver clinical services, the young volunteer says. ATBEF hosts and runs various activities, ensuring that young people get access to “the right information” confidentially, she says. The numbers are significant. In 2021, despite the COVID-19 crisis, the 2 university kiosks provided 28,154 educational and health services to Togolese youths. In 2022, ATBEF provided 172,538 services through the Global Affairs Canada-supported program. In the ATBEF kiosk at the University of Lomé, trained staff members and volunteers provide contraceptives and referrals as needed. Credit: ATBEF Ayeva, who lives in Togo’s capital of Lomé and became a member of the global board of trustees of the IPPF last November, is ever mindful of her young friends who had to stop their studies because of early marriages and pregnancies. “I’m constantly challenged by my conscience,” she says. “I really want to make a change among the young population.” She’s proud to be a young leader and role model in her community, calling herself a “lifelong activist in the name of sexual education.” She feels that through the activities of ATBEF, with the assistance of partners such as Canada, “taboos are a little bit reduced today and people are more willing to talk about sexuality.” She is pursuing her goal of becoming a doctor of public health responsible for a large social organization. Last year, Ayeva graduated with a degree in pharmaceutical science, and she plans to pursue a master’s in public health next. She would ultimately like to work in a field such as reproductive science and get a position as a specialist with the United Nations. A nurse at a mobile clinic provides family-planning counselling and contraceptive pills to a woman. Credit: ATBEF Ayeva writes poetry and recently composed a poem for an IPPF event in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Titled “J’ai peur” [“I am afraid”], it expresses her concerns about rising rates of teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence and discrimination. While her poem paints a bleak picture of society, it notes that [translation] “destiny lies in the hands of its youth” and emphasizes the importance of activism. “Beyond my fear, I remain confident,/…I see a glimmer of hope on the horizon,” Ayeva writes. “Together we can change the world.”

Benin news in NY Time

The New York Times article: A Year After Widening Abortion Access, Benin Sees Fewer Botched Ones

sexual-reproductive-health-Africa
25 October 2022

IPPFAR Statement: Expanding Access to Abortion Care: Regional Safe Abortion Dialogue in Francophone Africa

24 October 2022. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 45% of all abortions are unsafe and almost all of these occur in developing countries[1]. An unsafe abortion is a procedure for terminating an unwanted pregnancy either by persons lacking the necessary skills or in an environment lacking minimal medical standards or both. Unsafe abortions result in the deaths of 47,000 women every year and leaves millions temporarily or permanently disabled[2]. An estimated 93% of women of reproductive age in Africa live in countries with restrictive abortion laws[3]. This means that the countries’ laws only permit abortion in certain cases, often only if there is risk to the woman’s life, her health, the pregnancy is the result of rape, or there is evidence of foetal impairment. On this first-day of the Regional Safe Abortion Dialogue, organized by the Organisation pour le Dialogue sur l'Avortement Sécurisé (ODAS), IPPF Africa Region reaffirms its commitment to championing and providing abortion care and reducing the number of deaths of women and girls who are forced to turn to unsafe abortion methods for fear of arrests and harassment. IPPF Africa Region would also like to amplify the statement made by the  Honourable Commissioner Janet R Sallah-Njie, the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights Pressrelease (achpr.org) urging State Parties to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African Charter) to honour their commitments under the African Charter; and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol or Protocol), by decriminalising abortion in their respective countries. “We applaud ODAS and all the other partnerships and actors who are working tirelessly to expand access to abortion care. Almost 90% of abortions in countries with liberal abortion laws are considered safe, compared to only 25% in countries where abortion is banned. This is a gross violation of human rights. Medical abortion has revolutionised access to care and safe abortion, both inside and outside the health system; and safe and effective abortion self-care means that people can now safely terminate their pregnancies in the privacy of their own homes. These advances must be protected,” said Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry, Regional Director of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Africa Region. “Ensuring accessing to abortion care is critical for the complete fulfilment of sexual and reproductive health and rights”, added Comlan Christian Agbozo, the Executive Director of the Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF). “As one of the leading providers of sexual and reproductive health services in Benin, we are very fortunate that the new law passed in Benin in November 2021, is providing women with expanded options to access abortion care in instances that they may not want, or be able, to continue with a pregnancy.” The International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR) is one of the leading providers of quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Africa and a prominent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) advocacy voice in the region. For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube. [1] Abortion (who.int) [2] WHO | Preventing unsafe abortion [3] Abortion in Africa | Guttmacher Institute

Benin_Abortion Stigma Packard
25 October 2021

Historic Moment for Benin as New Law Legalizing Abortion Adopted

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) welcomes the news of abortion law reform in Benin.  On 20 October 2021, the Benin National Assembly voted to significantly widen the conditions under which women and gender non-confirming people can legally access abortion care. The new law will now allow women and gender non-conforming people to end their pregnancy within the first three months if it is likely to "aggravate or cause material, educational, professional or moral distress, incompatible with the woman or the unborn child's interest.” Under Benin’s previous abortion law, it was only permissible to seek abortion care if the pregnancy ‘threatened the life of the mother’, was ‘the result of a rape or incest’ or when ‘the unborn child has a particularly severe affection’. In a country where an estimated that 200 women die annually from unsafe abortion, the new law will undoubtedly save lives.  IPPF is proud that its Member Association in the country, Association Beninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF), was directly involved in advocating for change in the abortion law. The organization’s involvement began years ago, when it intensified its advocacy activities with key stakeholders, most notably the Network of Parliamentarians for Population and Development, made up of several Members of Parliament (MPs) committed to championing sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Among its activities, ABPF organized capacity building and advocacy sessions with parliamentarians. It also proposed an extension of the law on abortion in a code on sexual and reproductive health, which was developed and presented to the MPs.  Mr. Christian Agbozo, Executive Director of ABPF says that it was this close collaboration with lawmakers and other key stakeholders, both in the private and public sector that led to this success.   "The new law is a step forward for the rights of Beninese women. ABPF’s involvement in advocating for abortion liberalization was necessary not only to ensure women's right to decide, but to also allow ABPF service providers to provide comprehensive abortion care services without being subjected to prosecution in the future. The new law will help more women receive safe abortion care and exercise their reproductive rights and freedoms. It is a proud moment for us all,” he says. IPPF Africa Regional Director Mrs. Marie-Evelyne Petrus-Barry acknowledged Benin’s progressive step in voting for the legalization of abortion.   “As an institution that believes in the unreserved upholding of the human rights of all people, we affirm that this is indeed a great win not only for the women and girls of Benin, but for women and girls across the region. Following in the footsteps of two other countries in the continent, South Africa and Cape Verde, Benin has demonstrated its commitment to women’s reproductive freedom, and we hope that other African countries will follow” she said.   Mrs. Petrus-Barry further reiterated IPPF’s commitment to advocating for the repeal of retrogressive laws and policies that infringe on their reproductive autonomy, and development of those that allow them to exercise their sexual reproductive health and rights.   Her sentiments were echoed by IPPF’s Director General, Dr. Alvaro Bermejo.  “We are extremely pleased to see the long-awaited expansion of abortion provision in Benin and applaud the National Assembly for recognising the dignity, humanity and sexual and reproductive rights of Beninese people seeking abortion care. We are also proud of our Member Association, ABPF, for its continued hope and advocacy in Benin.”  Dr. Bermejo acknowledged the dedicated efforts by African countries to push back against colonial and archaic abortion laws that hold their communities back. “IPPF is honored to be a part of that movement and will never stop fighting for safe and legal abortion care for all those who need it.” For more updates on our work, follow IPPF Africa Region on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube.

Bringing Comprehensive Sexuality Education Online in Benin
24 June 2021

Adapting Family Planning Services in Times of Crisis: Bringing Comprehensive Sexuality Education Online in Benin

The COVID-19 outbreak created the largest disruption of education systems in history. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94% of the world’s student population, of which 99% are in low and lower-middle-income countries1. UNESCO estimated in July 2020 that about 24 million learners, from pre-primary to university level, were at risk of not returning to school because of COVID-19 disruptions. The restrictive measures to contain the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus have made it even more difficult for young people to access essential life-saving sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, including comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and contraception. This has put them at greater risk of teenage pregnancies, unsafe abortion, gender-based violence (GBV), sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV; making access to out-of-school sexuality education and services even more urgent. 64.4% of Benin’s population is under the age of 25 years. Even though CSE has been included in the secondary school curriculum since 2018, following advocacy efforts by our Member Association in the country, the Association Beninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) and other organizations, CSE education is only delivered in few pilot schools and does not include issues of diversity and sexual fulfilment. In response to the difficult situation presented by COVID-19, ABPF developed online CSE sessions during the pandemic, in a bid to ensure adolescents and young people could continue to access CSE. Download the complete case study here:  Bringing Comprehensive Sexuality Education Online in Benin

Kader Avonnon
04 December 2019

"Why I Advocate for Men's Involvement in Female Condom Use" -Avonnon Kader

By Maryanne W. Waweru 28-year-old Kader Avonnon is the Program Assistant -Youth, Gender and Advocacy in IPPF’s MA in Benin - Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF). “In my country, cases of unwanted pregnancies and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV among young people are quite alarming, more so in women. As a youth SRHR advocate, I believe in the importance of women holding contraceptive power in their hands -literally, and the female condom does exactly that. It is therefore prudent that we remain steadfast in our efforts to empower more young women in learning about how they can take control of their reproductive health,” he says. Just like the male condom, the FC2 female condom blocks sperm and the bacteria or viruses that cause STIs. The outer ring provides added protection against STIs by covering the woman’s external sex organs and the base of the penis. When used correctly and consistently, it is as effective as other barrier methods. Kader, who started out as a volunteer peer educator with ABPF’s Youth Action Movement (YAM) at the age of 20, adds that education about female condoms should not be a preserve of women. “During our outreaches, we also give information about the female condom to men. Without their involvement and cooperation, women will not be successful in using the female condom. Men need to clearly understand the benefits of the female condom, its correct use, where it can be accessed or purchased and at what cost. They must support their girlfriends in decision making when it comes to issues of sex. That’s why we don’t leave men out in our education activities,” says Kader. It also goes that sometimes, a couple might be unsatisfied with male condoms, hence why it is important for them to know that there is the option of the female condom. During ABPF’s community outreaches, youth peer educators do demonstrations about the correct use of both female and male condoms. They then distribute them to the young people who need them. The female condoms are also available at all ABPF’s clinics. They are given free-of-charge. “In all the forums I find myself in where there are men, I always take a moment to encourage them to be involved in contraceptive decisions with their girlfriends. It’s one of the best ways to show their love and support,” concludes Kader. Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. If you are young person and would like to join the Youth Action Movement, see where we work and get in touch. You can also reach us through @YAM Africa For more updates on our work, follow us on Facebook and Twitter Images are of Kader at an exhibition stand at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in Kigali, Rwanda (2 - 7 December 2019).

Oswald-Homeky
08 November 2019

Benin Sports Minister Reiterates Commitment to Supporting the Youth SRHR Agenda During Regional Francophone Forum

By Maryanne W. Waweru Cotonou, BENIN: The Minister of Sports Mr. Oswald Homeky joined youth from French-speaking sub-Saharan African countries during the closing ceremony of the second edition of the Francophone regional forum aimed at sharing best practices on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) among adolescents and young people. The regional forum was organized by the Benin chapter of the Youth Action Movement (YAM) and was supported by the Embassy of Netherlands in Benin, together with IPPF. It brought together over 150 youth from 20 different countries. YAM is the youth arm of IPPF Africa Region’s volunteer body based within the Member Associations (MAs). The Sports Minister congratulated the youth for their noble initiative of knowledge exchange between each other, especially on the crucial matter of their sexual reproductive health and well-being. Mr. Homeky further appreciated the work of IPPF’s Member Association in Benin - Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) and its partners in putting youth at the forefront and prioritizing the youth agenda in their programs. The Sports Minister committed to increasing the budget for youth Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) activities. He also acknowledged the importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and reiterated his availability to support young people’s meaningful participation in development matters. Mr. Homeky pledged to support the implementation of recommendations from the forum. See Related Story: Regional Forum on SRHR Best Practices Among Youth in Francophone Africa During the meeting, IPPFAR’s Regional President Hon. Antonio Niquice lauded the brilliant initiative by the young people of Francophone Africa in coming together to share experiences and discuss about how they can tackle some of the sexual and reproductive health challenges facing them. He emphasized IPPF’s commitment to promoting youth-centered approaches and support the implementation of the resolutions from the forum. Maryanne W. Waweru is the Governance and Compliance Officer, IPPF Africa Region. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou
16 December 2015

Parliamentarians are Key to Realizing Demographic Dividend in Africa

African parliamentarians must seek ways of mobilizing resources to fund the demographic dividend agenda in their countries. This is according to the IPPF Africa Region Director Mr. Lucien Kouakou, who made these remarks during the closing ceremony of a two-day capacity building workshop for African Parliamentarians held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 14 – 15 December 2015. The meeting, attended by 13 legislators drawn from the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), was aimed at enhancing the legislators' understanding of the concept of the ‘Demographic Dividend’, and their role in moving forward related agenda. The demographic dividend refers to the accelerated economic growth initiated by a rapid decline in fertility and mortality, and which results in a change of the age structure in the population –from one dominated by child dependents to one driven by an economically productive adult workforce. “Harnessing the demographic dividend is fundamental to Africa’s development. A demographic shift in any population is important because of it's direct bearing to among others: economic growth, education levels, poverty levels and the health and well-being of a nation. The current demographic transition in Africa is one that has the ability to steer the next surge of economic growth - with a population characterized by healthier and more educated youth, and who will have greater access to the labour force and economic markets. African leaders therefore need to put in place measures that will ensure that the continent harnesses the dividend from Africa’s youthful population,” he said. A new report from the World Bank reveals that government policies and other related actions undertaken today will increase the likelihood of harnessing various economic and social benefits of demographic change. “Parliamentarians are instrumental in this process, as they are the ones involved in the formulation of policies and legislations. When a country has the right set of policies in place, it is better placed to reap the benefits of a demographic change, hence the need to involve Members of Parliament in all conversations around the demographic dividend. There is no doubt that the demographic dividend can be achieved in Africa, if the right policies are instituted,” said Mr. Kouakou. The capacity building initiative for the African legislators, organized by IPPF and UNFPA and themed: "Moving the Demographic Dividend Agenda: from Ideas to Actions", established a harmonized understanding of the demographic dividend among the MPs, and helped define their level of engagement in advancing this agenda in their countries. A clear roadmap for moving forward the demographic dividend agenda at both regional and national levels was developed during the forum. Members of parliament who attended the forum included: Hon. Chris Baryomunsi (Uganda), Hon. Marie-Rose Nguini Effa (Cameroon), Hon. Jose Manuel Tavares Sanches (Cape Verde), Hon. Mbaidessemel Dionadiji (Chad), Hon. Zalikatou Diallo (Guinea Conakry), Hon. Larry Younquoi (Liberia), Hon. Illa Ousmane (Niger), Hon. Helen Kuyembeh (Sierra Leone), Hon. Dlamini Princess Phumelele (Swaziland), Hon. Highvie Hamdudu (Zambia), Hon. Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman (Nigeria), Hon. Ahmed Babou Babah (Mauritania) and Hon. Sado Nazaire (Benin). In his speech, Mr. Kouakou called on the MPs to take a lead role in mobilizing resources that will ensure that the demographic dividend will be realized in their countries. “Parliamentarians can influence their colleagues and garner their support for the formulation of policies and legislations, specifically those related to population and development. They can call for more budgetary allocation to respective institutions, such as the Ministries of Planning and Development, The Ministries of Health and Education, as well as institutions that focus on the youth. They can also take the lead in seeking innovative ways of mobilizing resources at the local level that would champion population and related issues. Members of Parliament have an unmatched role in steering development in their countries,” he said. Mr. Kouakou further urged the legislators to take advantage of the resource that is partners who have a presence in the region, such as IPPF and UNFPA – entities that are committed to Africa’s growth. Development partners, if convinced that the demographic dividend is key to the growth of the region, will definitely assist in different ways, including offering technical assistance, capacity building and mobilization of resources, he said. “IPPF and UNFPA are committed to this agenda, and are working in collaboration with the Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA) to implement a programme that will ensure that all African countries are on track to realizing the demographic dividend. The project is initially slated for implementation in the six countries of Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, with more countries being incorporated in the coming years. We are keen on ensuring that no country is left behind,” he said. The Africa Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (FPA), which was established in 2012, seeks to exchange and coordinate action in support of the ICPD Beyond 2014. FPA also seeks to ensure that parliamentarians assist in the implementation of the ICPD Beyond 2014 Agenda by adopting initiatives in population policies, as well as harmonisation of African legislation on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). At the Abidjan General Assembly meeting in 2014, FPA reaffirmed its purpose as a regional body established to drive the agenda on population and development at both the national and regional levels.

Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille

The Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) has been operating for 38 years. ABPF offers family planning, ante-natal and post-abortion care, infertility treatment, screening of cancers of the reproductive system, and management of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV and AIDS). Its service points include permanent and mobile clinics.

ABPF is focused on reaching marginalized groups such as prisoners, sex workers, refugees and internally displaced persons. The majority of clients are estimated to be poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served.

To reduce the national maternal mortality rate, ABPF operates an effective community-based obstetric and antenatal care service in 16 villages, using traditional birth attendants and volunteer health workers. ABPF also runs a locally-based service for young people which involves hundreds of community-based distributors (CBDs) and peer educators providing young people with sexual and reproductive health information, condoms and counselling services.

In acknowledgment of ABPF’s expertise and accomplishments, the Government of Benin invited the organization to become a member of the technical committee (in the Ministry of Planning) that drafts reproductive health policies: the Population Policy, the Family Health Policy, HIV and AIDS policies and the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy.

Whilst ABPF has recorded major advances in sexual and reproductive health, there are still very significant challenges as the figures for lifetime risk of maternal death, child mortality rate and unmet need for contraception of illustrate.

Driving the work of ABPF is a large and dedicated team of hundreds of volunteers. There’s a Youth Action Movement which draws on the skills of young people. ABPF works in partnership with a range of government organisations, including parliament, the Ministère de la Famille, the Ministère de la Jeunesse, and the Ministère du Plan. Funders include USAID. Non-goverrnmental organizations working with ABPF include the Country Co-ordinating Mechanism for health and sexual and reproductive health.   

Contacts

Website: http://www.abpf.org/nouv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ABPF.IPPF/