The Ouagadougou Partnership: An Improbable Success in a Troubled Region

By Marie Ba, Director, Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit ; Janet Fleischman, Independent Consultant Ouagadougou Partnership Donors ' caravan stop at Ecole des Jeunes Filles in Niamey, Niger during a session on " Complete Sexual Education. " PHOTO courtesy of EtriLabs/Yves TamomoMarch 19, 2020Sometimes innovation to spur social change arises in unexpected places. At a time of increased extremism and insecurity in West Africa, the remarkable story of a partnership to advance women’s health and empowerment through family planning is worthy of global attention. By tackling such challenges, the partnership provides hope for women, girls, and their communities in a troubled region, with lessons for other parts of the world.The Ouagadougou Partnership achieved a level of success that was unimaginable at its outset almost a decade ago.The story began in 2011, in Ouagadougou, the capital of landlocked Burkina Faso, when representatives from nine francophone West African countries joined with international donors to launch a simple but radical plan. The idea was to expand access to contraception in a region that was dramatically lagging behind the rest of the continent in maternal and child health. What became known as the Ouagadougou Partnership achieved a level of success that was unimaginable at its outset almost a decade ago, when even discussing family planning in such conservative societies was still perceived to be taboo. Even more important for future pros...
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Family Planning & Reproductive Health Community Engagement Policy Advocacy Youth Source Type: news