East Africa: Women and Girls Fleeing Somalia's Drought Grapple Gender-Based Violence in Daadab Refugee Camps

Around Christmas time last year, Rukia Yaroow Ali, 38, arrived at Hagadera refugee camp in Daadab. Hunger and insecurity had forced her to flee her village in Jilib in Somalia,… Read more »

Africa: The Road to Ending Female Genital Mutilation Must Be Paved in Partnership With Men and Boys

Joint Opinion Editorial from Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Regional Director, Eastern and Southern Africa and Lydia Zigomo, UNFPA Regional Director, East and Southern Africa, on… Read more »

Malawi: Hacked With a Machete By Her Husband, Young Woman Gets Justice With Spotlight Initiative Support

Anna Salima, 24, has painful memories of her two marriages. With her first marriage, it took her just a week to realize she had married the wrong man. Yet she stayed for five… Read more »

Mozambique: 'I Can Now Go Back to School' - Teenage Mother Overjoyed She Can Prevent Unintended Pregnancies With Contraception

Fátima António, 18, the mother of a five-month-old boy, told UNFPA she was "apprehensive and hesitant" about using contraception. She is not alone. Nampula province… Read more »

Mozambique: "I Can Now Go Back to School" - Teenage Mother Overjoyed to Be Using Contraceptives

Fátima António, 18, the mother of a five-month-old boy, told UNFPA she was "apprehensive and hesitant" about using contraception. She is not alone. Nampula province… Read more »

Ethiopia: Protecting Women and Girls Affected By Conflict and Drought

"I used to be a wealthy woman. I had farmlands, horses, cows and even a shopping centre. The conflict has ravaged my life. Now, I am destitute," said Ugosa Hassan, who is living on… Read more »

Angola: How Technology Is Improving the Quality of Maternal Health Care in Drought-Affected Angola

"It is very gratifying to be able to accompany a pregnant woman from her first consultation until delivery," says Leonor Teles Daniel, a nurse at Namacunde municipal hospital in… Read more »

Kenya: Motorcycle Ambulance Helps Pregnant Women in Drought-Stricken Community to Access Life-Saving Maternal Health Care

Every month, midwives at Katilu sub-county hospital deliver more than 60 babies to women living in Turkana South sub-county, saving the lives of mothers experiencing complications,… Read more »

Kenya: Severe Drought Reduces Hospital Deliveries Among Pregnant Women in Kenya's Turkana County

"I have never experienced a drought as bad as this in my life," 28-year-old Akure Ewar told UNFPA. Seven months pregnant, she complains that she is hungry and often feels dizzy… Read more »

Southern Africa: Speed Up the Rate of Progress On Midwifery in East and Southern Africa, New UNFPA Report Urges

The number of midwives in East and Southern Africa has increased by 8 per cent since 2017, yet a shortage of almost 300,000 midwives remains. The 146,000 midwives in the region… Read more »

Ethiopia: Long-Awaited Life-Saving Reproductive Health Supplies Reach Tigray, Ethiopia

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, has resumed distribution of humanitarian aid in Tigray, following the recent peace agreement. On 8 December, around… Read more »

Botswana: Achieving Her Dream and Promoting Rights - Journey of a Young Woman With a Disability

Raised by a single mother in the village of Rasesa, Tsaone Mosweu was born with a genetic eye disorder that would impair her vision. "At age 10, I developed cataracts and had… Read more »

Africa: Time to Close the Deep Disparities That Leave So Many Persons With Disabilities Behind

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022 Read more »

Africa: Recommit to Equality to Address HIV As a Major Global Public Health Threat

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on World AIDS Day 2022 Read more »

Africa: Innovative Solutions for Ending Female Genital Mutilation Win Seed Funding

Two ground-breaking innovative solutions for ending female genital mutilation (FGM) on the continent are the winners of UNFPA's FGM Innovation Hacklab. Read more »

Africa: 'For Women and Girls, No Place Is Safe' - Urgent Action Needed to Combat Digital Violence

"Can you put a price tag on human life? Can there be a penalty strong enough against those who, for their own amusement, mentally torture people until they end their own lives?" Read more »

Mozambique: "Girls Should Focus On Their Studies" - How Activists Are Changing Girls' Lives in Mozambique

With notebooks in her arms and a bright smile, Maria*, 16, is getting ready for another school day. In the 9th grade in Mogovolas district, Nampula province, she dreams of becoming… Read more »

Africa: Violence Against Women and Girls - Stand in Solidarity and Say 'Enough', UNFPA Says

Statement by UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2022 Read more »

South Africa: New UNFPA Regional Champion to Help Make the World a Safer, Better Place for Women and Girls

UNFPA's first ever Regional Champion is Shudufhadzo Musida, author and Miss South Africa 2020. Read more »

South Africa: UNFPA Announces Partnership With Miss South Africa 2020 Shudufhadzo Musida As New Regional Champion

UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, announced the appointment of Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida, as UNFPA Regional Champion. Read more »

South Africa: UNFPA Unveils Exciting New Partnership With Miss South Africa 2020, Shudufhadzo Musida

Statement by Lydia Zigomo, Regional Director on the launch of new Regional Champion, 22 November 2022 Read more »