At the end of 2019, Equipop initiated an international mobilization that led the FGE organization to endorse the existence of an SRHR action coalition. Equipop therefore contributed to the work surrounding this coalition through several entry points.
Firstly, Equipop became involved in the coalition as a member of Alliance Droits et Santé (Alliance for Rights and Health), which is one of the co-pilots, and has been particularly active within it. Alliance Droits et Santé participated in all official sessions. Its spokesperson, Agathe Blanc of the AFJCI (Association des femmes juristes de Côte d'Ivoire), with the support of several other members, created momentum within the entire network between meetings by establishing representation through a focal point in each country.
Support for the Rights and Health Alliance network
Throughout the year, the network contributed to a more inclusive approach and genuine representation of West Africa by advocating for the removal of language barriers and the systematic provision of French interpretation services. In addition, the network was particularly involved in ensuring that Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) became a key focus of the coalition. The network published recommendations on this subject. These combined advocacy efforts have borne fruit, as the coalition's final roadmap is very close to the position of Alliance Droits et Santé. The network's demands were taken up by the two champion states of the coalition, France and Burkina Faso, and helped to instill a human rights-based approach.
Collaboration with the Burkinabe government
Equipop has developed an ongoing partnership with Burkina Faso, the pilot country for the FGE's DSSR coalition. Discussions have taken place at the highest level, with both the Minister of Health, Prof. Charlemagne Ouédraogo, and the First Lady, Mrs. Sika Kaboré, as well as at a more technical level. For example, Equipop has acted as an intermediary between UN Women and the Technical Secretariat for Demographic Transition in Burkina Faso. Equipop has also provided financial support to IPBF (Pananetugri Initiative for Women's Well-being), which has amplified civil society mobilization in Burkina Faso. In this context, several events were held, such as the webinar "SRHR for women and girls: one month before the GEF, issues and challenges in Burkina Faso," co-organized with the First Lady and the Minister, in order to fuel collective reflection on themes that resonate with those of the Generation Equality Forum, such as the integration of a human rights approach into public health actions and strengthening adolescent girls' access to sexual and reproductive health services. The other panelists represented international organizations such as UNFPA and WAHO. Finally, the presence of Marie Ba, Director of the Ouagadougou Partnership Coordination Unit, marked the beginning of exchanges related to the GEF between Equipop and the Ouagadougou Partnership.
The Ouagadougou Partnership: a ripple effect
Cooperation with the Burkinabe government also took place with a view to creating a ripple effect among other countries in the region. In this sense, the Ouagadougou Partnership played a catalytic role. These discussions culminated in a joint commitment by six countries (Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea, Mali, Niger, and Togo) at the FGE in July on four priority areas: family life education, free healthcare, access to quality services for young people through schools and universities, and strengthening integrated healthcare units. The prospects are even extending beyond West Africa, as Equipop has facilitated the sharing of experiences between the ministries of health of Burkina Faso and Madagascar on the theme of "Different perspectives on the challenges of early pregnancy and family planning" during the FGE's satellite event in Madagascar, as part of the mobilization of the French-speaking world.
Promotion of the UNFPA Annual Report, "My Body Belongs to Me"
The long-standing relationship between Equipop and UNFPA has been evident several times this year. First, on April 14, Equipop facilitated the launch of the annual report, the 2021 State of the World Population (SWOP), entitled My Body, My Choice: Claiming the Right to Autonomy and Self-Determination. On May 1July , in Paris, Equipop helped organize a meeting between Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of UNFPA, and young French feminists, in front of the outdoor exhibition based on the content of SWOP 2021. These events demonstrated that the issues addressed by UNFPA resonate strongly with young people in West Africa and France.
“€90 million to UNFPA Supplies over five years”
These steps also helped to strengthen the partnership between UNFPA and the French government. At the FGE, France announced an unprecedented increase in its contribution, pledging €90 million to UNFPA Supplies over five years. Several European countries also made political and financial commitments to SRHR (Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, etc.). This followed the Trusted Government Meeting, which brought together a dozen diplomats seeking information about the FGE and to adjust their respective countries' involvement. The meeting was co-organized by Equipop, as a member of the Countdown 2030 Europe consortium, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
