Kenya: Investing for Impact - Latest On Kenya's Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Development Impact Bond

At a government-run dispensary located in Nairobi's Kware informal settlement, 26-year-old nurse Steven Ngang'a attends to young mothers holding their babies. The girls, all aged… Read more »

Southern Africa: UNFPA Offers Funding to Young Innovators for Climate Change Solutions to Advance Gender Equality and Community Resilience

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency is pleased to announce the launch of the next installment of its HackLab series through the East and Southern Africa… Read more »

Zimbabwe: 'When I Looked in the Mirror, I Knew I Had Had Enough of His Abuse'

"When I met this man, I thought I had been given another chance at love," says 41-year-old Lungile*. She shifts uncomfortably on her seat. "I had no idea that things would turn out… Read more »

Africa: How We Can Safeguard the Dreams and Futures of Our Girl Children Using Data for a Better Future for All

For humanity to progress, people must be counted in all their diversity, wherever they are and whoever they are. Read more »

Malawi: Malawian Sisters Confirm the Lasting Effect of Dignity Kits

"The items we received have proven incredibly durable; throughout all the times we have had to move from place to place, we carried them with us, and they have continued to be… Read more »

Africa: Embracing Resilience - a Call to Action for Women and Girls in Small Island Developing States

"Woman is the thread. A woman is the needle. She is the weaver of family and society." Read more »

South Africa: A Sky Resembling Smoke - Witnessing Despair and Hope in the Wake of Tongaat's Tornado

It's June 3rd and social media is abuzz with videos of hail the size of tennis balls and a sky that resembles something like smoke, 40 kilometres north of Durban. Reports come in… Read more »

Africa: Canada Boosts UNFPA's Efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa With U.S.$7.2 Million

Global Affairs Canada has pledged US$7.2 million to UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, to respond to severe humanitarian needs in 13 countries across… Read more »

Southern Africa: My Journey With Young Change-Makers in East and Southern Africa

Something struck me during a virtual event I was leading last week. A young person captured in a few words the essence of why we had gathered together. Read more »

Southern Africa: UNFPA Launches Groundbreaking Digital Innovation Strategy and Toolkit to Help End FGM and Child Marriage in East and Southern Africa

With the clock ticking towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency announced a groundbreaking new… Read more »

Tanzania: Walking Arm in Arm Towards a More Inclusive Future Where Everyone Can Access Sexual and Reproductive Health

On the outskirts of Dar es Salaam lies a colourful oasis, one where sign language is spoken across the schoolyard and students are adept at assisting one another. Two students,… Read more »

Africa: Celebrating the Spirit of Youth

In the heart of Malawi, with the backdrop of the vibrant colors of the landscape and the warm smiles of its people, there exists a tale of courage, resilience, and hope that… Read more »

Africa: Hearing and Healing Survivors of Sexual Violence Is Essential to Lasting Peace

International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (19 June) Read more »

Uganda: Rising Above - Young Mothers Reclaim Their Lives After Obstetric Fistula

Uganda, Malawi, and Mozambique - Obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury that results in incontinence and social isolation, is a preventable condition that was suffered needlessly… Read more »

Zambia: Zambia Takes Bold Steps to End Child Marriage With Landmark Law

In a monumental stride towards safeguarding the rights of young girls, Zambia has enacted a groundbreaking law to end early child marriage. Read more »

Africa: Menstrual Equity Is the Key to a Healthier and More Equitable World

Blog by Meron Negussie, UNFPA Regional Programme Specialist for Adolescents and Youth, to commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, 28 May 2024 Read more »

Africa: UNFPA Advocates for Strengthened Human Capital to Drive Sustainable Development in Africa

Speaking to delegates and international leaders at the 9th African Population Conference, Lydia Zigomo, the UNFPA Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, emphasized the… Read more »

Africa: Igniting the Potential of Adolescent Girls in Pursuit of the Africa We Want

For over 30 years, I have traveled extensively across the diverse landscapes of East and Southern Africa, the region closest to my heart, and experiencing the stunning cultures,… Read more »

Ethiopia: How Midwife Mentors Make It Safer for Women to Give Birth in Ethiopia's Fragile Areas

Imagine being a midwife in a remote, fragile context, like the Afar region in Ethiopia. This hot low-land and desert-like area has been affected by conflict, driving up the… Read more »

Africa: Celebrating Midwives - Edinah Delivers Babies, One Safe Birth At a Time

Grimacing and sweating, twenty-three-year-old Samiya, a refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is expecting her first child and is experiencing intense pain while waiting… Read more »

Africa: Urgent Call for Country Leadership and Global Solidarity to End Maternal and Newborn Deaths By 2030

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will join global leaders to call for renewed commitment towards progress on eradicating preventable maternal and newborn deaths at a 29… Read more »

Zimbabwe: Prisca's Story - 'I Thought I Had Lost It All'

Prisca,* a 22-year-old young woman who lives in Chiredzi Rural, Zambia, has faced a harrowing ordeal. One night, while asleep in a room with two toddlers, an unknown man broke into… Read more »

Ethiopia: Supporting GBV Survivors in Amhara to Recover and Build Resilience

Amina is one of the many women who have experienced conflict-related sexual violence during the devastating two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia. For more than three years, she… Read more »

South Sudan: From Returnee to Resilience - How Income Opportunities and Cash Assistance Fuel Hope

Fleeing from war, 55-year-old Angelina Yowin Abwol Deng embarked on a perilous journey from her home in Fit-Hab-Khartoum through Kordofan to reach safety in South Sudan, and is now… Read more »

Africa: Breaking Barriers - Investing in the Future of Women and Girls

As the world commemorates International Women's Day on March 8th, we stand united in celebrating the remarkable achievements of women and girls across the globe. Read more »