– A week of advocacy for family planning

Invited by Equipop and the Ouagadougou Partnership, a West African delegation traveled to Paris to advocate for universal access to family planning. Centered around a conference and multiple meetings with French decision-makers, this initiative generated considerable interest. The foundations have been laid for the momentum in favor of family planning within French development policy to accelerate.

For several years, France has pursued an ambitious diplomatic policy in support of women's rights, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights. However, France has not announced any financial commitments to family planning as part of its development policy.

As we reach the halfway point of global commitments to family planning (FP 2020 initiative) and enter the second phase of the Ouagadougou Partnership, it is imperative that family planning remains a priority for French development aid. To convey this message, Equipop, in partnership with the Ouagadougou Partnership, decided to organize a visit to Paris by African specialists and personalities involved in this field. The advocacy strategy was clear: give a voice to actors in the field and promote existing initiatives.

Representatives included the Ouagadougou Partnership, the West African Health Organization (WAHO), the Niger Ministry of Health, the network of young ambassadors for reproductive health and family planning in Benin, and finally, the Siggil Jiggéen Network, which also contributes to the work of Alliance Droits et Santé.

MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES TO SPREAD THE WORD

Accompanied by Equipop, the West African delegation participated in several high-level meetings with French development aid stakeholders. Each time, the discussions highlighted the cross-cutting nature of issues related to women's empowerment, family planning, and demographics.

The message was conveyed in a form tailored to the officials receiving the delegation: the French Development Agency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Families, Children, and Women's Rights, members of parliament, the High Council for Gender Equality, and Paris City Hall.

In addition to these bilateral meetings, a conference organized with the support of the Academy of Sciences was held on June 8 at the Fondazione del Duca. The event allowed members of the West African delegation to present the challenges related to family planning in greater detail. The event was covered in the Pause Santé program on RFI, in a special edition featuring members of the delegation.

This eventful and busy week helped to mobilize French stakeholders in favor of family planning, which was the primary objective. It also helped to create or strengthen collaborations between various institutions in West Africa and France.