Congo-Kinshasa: Beating the Odds - Resilience, Hope and Safe Births At a UNFPA Mobile Clinic in the DRC

NORTH KIVU PROVINCE, Democratic Republic of the Congo - Although heavily pregnant and in pain, Kaindo Bembeleza waited patiently along with dozens of other women on a row of… Read more »

Africa: Women of African Descent Continue to Carry the Torch for Justice Amid Longstanding Inequities

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on the International Day for People of African Descent 2023 Read more »

Mozambique: From Bullying to Respectful - Cleiton's Club Ignites Shift in Gender Perspectives Among Mozambican Boys

Just 14 years old, Cleiton Adriano has set himself an admirable goal. The ninth grader is holding awareness-raising activities with his peers to help create an inclusive space at… Read more »

Congo-Kinshasa: 'Sometimes She Was Desperate' - How Survivors of Sexual Violence in the DRC Are Healing With the Help of UNFPA's Frontline Workers

NORTH KIVU PROVINCE  - "I was going to fetch firewood from the forest to cook food for myself and my six children, when I came across armed men." Read more »

Namibia: New Centre Aims to Empower Namibian Youth to Thrive

WINDHOEK, Namibia--At 16, Maria Hailonga experienced a significant trauma that affected her mental health - the death of her mother. She needed help to deal with her loss but she… Read more »

Tanzania: Stephen Bikoko - the Visionary Peer Educator Behind Upendo Group's Youth Empowerment Drive in Tanzania

Mother-of-two Melania Zambiliti, 21, wanted something more for herself and her family. Living with her in-laws and working as an ad hoc cleaner at a local restaurant where she was… Read more »

Malawi: A Warm Winter for Women and Girls Displaced By Tropical Cyclone Freddy

Mulanje, MALAWI - As dark clouds rolled over Ng'omba village in Mulanje, Daliso Simon gathered her harvest in a rush, as she didn't want to get caught in the impending storm. All… Read more »

Tanzania: Using Art and Animation to Strike Down Female Genital Mutilation in Tanzania

Glory Charles Mlagwa, 25, is a medical expert and public health specialist. She is the winner of the 2022 Spotlight Initiative-supported FGM (female genital mutilation) Hackathon,… Read more »

East Africa: Sexual Violence Stalks Women and Girls Fleeing Sudan for South Sudan

"My neighbour Rose* travelled with me to Renk, but her three daughters stayed behind in Khartoum. Later she learned they had been gang raped," said Martha.* Read more »

Rwanda: UNFPA Announces Kigali Call to Action At Women Deliver, Calling for Accelerated Efforts to Promote Women and Girls' Bodily Autonomy

Yesterday, at the Women Deliver Conference in Kigali, UNFPA announced the Kigali Call to Action: United for Women and Girls' Bodily Autonomy during its Pre-Conference event with… Read more »

Botswana: From Hours to Minutes - Drones Speed Up Medical Deliveries to Save Mothers' Lives in Remote Botswana

In the remote village of Mababe, Botswana, getting results from a straightforward blood test is no simple matter. Read more »

East Africa: Crisis in the Horn of Africa

More than 43 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia in 2023, 32 million of whom are acutely food insecure. Read more »

Africa: Lighting the Way for Women and Girls

What women and girls want and need matters Read more »

Africa: The Power of Gender Equality in Creating a World of Infinite Possibilities

World Population Day, 11 July Read more »

Ethiopia: As Drought and Floods Threaten Millions in Ethiopia, Midwives Are a Lifeline for Pregnant Women and Newborns

"Saving the life of this baby was a miracle and a blessing for my family. I am immensely grateful," said Amino Bashir, 25, as she held her newborn. Read more »

Ethiopia: Tigray's Road to Recovery - How a Maternity Waiting Home Restores Hope for Pregnant Women

Nine-months pregnant with her first child, Tigist Gebrerefael, 23, did not want to experience the agony other women in her rural enclave had endured during childbirth. "I have seen… Read more »

South Africa: Transformative Programme Gets New $42 Million Injection From Sweden

"Young girls in Uthukela have been spared unwanted pregnancies, because I was empowered as a mentor to give them prevention options," said nurse Gugu Shangase from Wembezi Clinic… Read more »

South Sudan: Sweden Invests U.S.$8.4 Million for Improving the Health and Well-Being of Women, Girls and Young People

Sweden announced its commitment of 90 million Swedish Krona ($8.4 million) to UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, to implement its fourth Country… Read more »

Southern Africa: Sweden Invests $42 Million to Improve Sexual and Reproductive Health in East and Southern Africa

Sweden today announced a further investment of $42 million for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), in an effort to transform the lives of millions of people in East… Read more »

Africa: A New Era for African Children - the Digital Revolution's Double-Edged Sword

Blog by Shudufhadzo Musida, Miss South Africa 2020 and Regional Champion for UNFPA East and Southern Africa, to commemorate the International Day of the African Child: the rights… Read more »

Tanzania: Tanzania Can Pave the Way for a Prosperous Future By Prioritizing Rights and Choices for All

In her 25 years as a midwife, Sanura Abdulla Salim has observed what can happen when women deliver several babies in succession without a break. Back-to-back pregnancies can be… Read more »

Southern Africa: UNFPA Esaro Launches 2023 'We Scale' FGM Hacklab

Imagine a world where every idea has the power to change lives, where young visionaries like you can shape the future. We've already witnessed the immense potential of UNFPA East… Read more »

Zambia: Restoring Hope, Rebuilding Lives - a Day in the Life of a Fistula Surgeon in Zambia

Around the world, half a million women and girls are thought to be living with obstetric fistula, a serious childbirth injury that can cause incontinence and result in significant… Read more »

Africa: Prevention, Treatment, Reintegration and Advocacy - How UNFPA and Partners Work to End Obstetric Fistula

According to an African proverb, "the sun should not rise or set twice on a labouring woman". Read more »

Rwanda: Putting Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights At Front and Centre

Community engagement has been regarded as a vital component to ensure that adolescents and young people have access to information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and rights… Read more »