Advance Family Planning (AFP) Organizes a Zero Pregnancies in schools advocacy summit for 9 Francophone West African Countries


Advance Family PlanninCotonou_AFP_SMART_Zero_Pregnancis at Schoolg (AFP) in partnership with FP2020, the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordinating Unit (OPCU), The Africa Regional Office of Partners in Population and Development PPD ARO and PAI organized a working meeting from March 4-6 in Cotonou, Benin, as a pilot activity in the regional approach to issues of advocacy for FP. The meeting brought together select organizations and participants from the 9 Ouagadougou Partnership (OP) countries. The meeting was majorly meant to accelerate progress in achieving the OP and FP2020 objectives and national policies and commitments related to Sexual and Reproductive Health of young people and increase access to information, services and supplies to youth and adolescents in the nine (9) OP countries. Zero Pregnancies in schools is a priority for most of the OP countries and is a starting point for engaging decision-makers in addressing the needs of all young people.

The meeting was attended by over 80 participants selected from a broad range of seasoned and younger professionals nominated by their peers. Resource persons from several-organization (OP, Track20, WHO, PMA 2020, PAI, PPD ARO, SECONAF, UNFPA, USAID, HP+, Dfid) were selected to inform the discussion and promote inter-organizational cooperation. PPD Benin Partner Country Coordinator (PCC) Dr Gaston Ahounou, played a leading role in coordinating and ensuring participation of Benin government representatives.

Specific objectives of this meeting included;

  1. A shared understanding of the latest evidence and effective practices for achieving zero pregnancies in school, including successful contraceptive service delivery.
  2. Communication programs and removing practical, sociocultural, and policy barriers.
  3. Drawing up country-specific preliminary 6-12-month multi-stakeholder SMART advocacy strategies.
  4. Plans for sustained advocacy collaboration in each OP country that is dedicated to the inclusion of strong youth leadership and achieving initial policy advocacy win’ and subsequent objectives through 2019.
  5. Leveraged resources, expertise, and commitment of national civil society (including youth) and international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), donors, governments, researchers, and religious leaders.

Determined to fulfil the commitments of FP2020 and universal health coverage, AFP has always focused on improving policies and increasing funding for family planning. In 2018, AFP renewed its approach by focusing on equitable access to high-quality contraception for young people and adolescents. In January, AFP and its local partners organized a similar meeting in Uganda for English-speaking Africa (Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia were represented).

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